V-Belt

• 1). Disconnect the black, negative battery cable using a wrench.
  
  
• 2). Loosen the adjuster and pivot bolts on the alternator using a wrench or ratchet and socket. Some vehicle models come equipped with an adjuster rod near the alternator to slack the drive belt for replacement. If necessary, consult your vehicle owner's manual.
  
  
• 3). Push the alternator toward the engine until there is enough slack in the belt. Remove the belt from the pulleys.
  
  
• 4). Compare the new and old belt and make sure they are the same size. The new belt might be slightly smaller than the old one. This is natural, since the new belt will be stretched as it wears and possibly will need readjustment after about 200 miles of driving.
  
  
• 5). Route the new belt over the crankshaft pulley at the bottom of the engine and the rest of the component pulleys, including the alternator's.
  
  
• 6). Pull the alternator away form the engine with your hand to give the drive belt its proper tension and hold it in position. Some alternators come equipped with a pulling bar with a square hole in it. Insert the drive of the appropriate size from a breaker bar or ratchet to pull the alternator while installing the drive belt. If your vehicle model is equipped with an adjuster rod, skip this step and go on to the next one.
  
  
• 7). Tighten the adjuster and pivot bolts on the alternator or the adjuster rod using the wrench or ratchet and socket. Avoid over-tightening the belt. Once installed, you should be able to push down on the belt with your thumb about a 1/8- to 1/4-inch between the longest free span of belt, if the distance between the two pulleys is less than 12 inches. If it is 12 inches or more, belt deflection should be about 1/8- to 3/9-inch.
  
  
• 8). Connect the black, negative battery cable using the wrench.
  
  

Serpentine Belt

• 1). Find the drive belt routing label on the engine compartment. In most cases, you will find this label on top of the radiator shroud, on the strut towers, firewall or belt guard. Compare the diagram with the actual belt routing to make sure it is the same and to use it as a guide during installation. If there is no diagram, make your own using a piece of paper and pencil.
  
  
• 2). Disconnect the black, negative battery cable using a wrench.
  
  
• 3). Insert the drive of a breaker bar or ratchet of the appropriate size in the arm of the belt tensioner pulley. On some other vehicle models, you will need a box-end wrench.
  
  
• 4). Rotate the tensioner pulley clockwise or counterclockwise (depending on your particular vehicle model) to slack the belt. Then slip the drive belt from the tensioner pulley. Carefully release the tensioner pulley back into position.
  
  
• 5). Remove the drive belt from the rest of the accessory pulleys and from the engine compartment.
  
  
• 6). Compare the new belt to the old one and make sure they have the same configuration and size. The new belt might be slightly smaller since it will stretch with use.
  
  
• 7). Route the new belt over the crankshaft pulley at the bottom of the engine and the rest of the accessory pulleys except the tensioner pulley. Follow the belt diagram on the engine compartment or your own notes if necessary.
  
  
• 8). Rotate the tensioner pulley using the breaker bar, ratchet or wrench. Hold it in position as you slip the belt over the tensioner pulley. Carefully release the tensioner pulley.
  
  
• 9). Make sure the belt is properly seating on every pulley.