How to Change a Serpentine Belt in a Sequoia
by Russell Wood
The serpentine belt on a Toyota Sequoia is made to coordinate the centrifugal forces of the motor with the accessories mounted to it, such as the power steering pump, alternator, water pump and air conditioning compressor. Over time, that rubber belt can crack and wear out, necessitating replacement. In this case, the project vehicle is a 2004 Toyota Sequoia with the 4.7l V8 engine, but the process is similar for other vehicles as well.
Step 1
Pop the hood and look for the belt routing diagram under the hood. Sometimes this is mounted on the core support, other times on the underside of the hood. Find it, because you'll need it for reference when reinstalling the belt.
Step 2
Locate the belt tensioner on the front of the engine, just to the left of the fan. Place the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket on the tensioner and turn it counter-clockwise to release tension on the belt. Then pull the belt off of one pulley and release the tensioner. Now you can pull the old belt out of the engine bay with no problems.
Step 3
Drop the replacement belt into the engine compartment and hook it around the large pulley at the base first, then work it around the remaining pulleys as shown in the belt diagram you found in step 1. You won't be able to get it around all of the pulleys yet, but get as many as you can.
Step 4
Pull the tensioner counter-clockwise again and route the belt over the tensioner, and over any remaining pulleys. Then release the tensioner once everything is set properly.
Step 5
Give a visual inspection of the belt, making sure that it isn't twisted or offset on any of the pulleys. Once it's set, start the engine and make sure the belt spins correctly.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2-inch ratchet and socket set
- Replacement serpentine belt
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
