How to Change Belts on Toyota Cars

One of the most important parts on your Toyota car is the belt. Without it, none of the other accessories will run and it could cause serious damage to your engine. You should inspect the belt regularly as part of your overall maintenance program. Any sign of glazing or cracking is a sure indication that you need to replace the belt as soon as possible. You can do it yourself and save money on labor charges by not taking the car to the garage for the repair.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change Belts on a 1995 Toyota Tercel
• How to Change the Belts in a 1997 Toyota Camry
• How to Replace the Belts on a 1994 Toyota Corolla
• How to Replace a Belt on a 2006 Camry
• How to Replace the Belt on a 2005 Toyota Avalon

 How to Change Belts on a 1995 Toyota Tercel

Open the hood of the Tercel and locate the drive belt and the tension pulley. If the engine is hot, allow the engine to cool before you proceed with replacing the drive belt.

Grab the nut in the center of the tension pulley using the wrench. Turn the nut counterclockwise to loosen the pulley and the drive belt. Once the drive belt is loose, pull the belt off all the engine pulleys.

Place the new drive belt onto the engine pulleys, starting with the tension pulley, down to the crankshaft pulley, across to the power steering pulley and up to the alternator pulley. Turn the nut in the center of the tension pulley clockwise using the wrench to tighten the new drive belt.

 How to Change the Belts in a 1997 Toyota Camry

Open the hood of the Camry and set the prop rod to hold the hood up for the duration of this project.

Loosen the top and bottom bolts on the alternator, using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket. Push the alternator inward, toward the engine. Remove the alternator drive belt completely.

Loosen the top and bottom bolts on the power steering pump. Push the power steering pump inward, toward the engine. Remove the power steering drive belt completely.

Install the power steering drive belt over the top of the power steering pulley. Route the drive belt down and under the crankcase pulley. The crank pulley is the large pulley located on the bottom center of the engine. Pull the power steering pump away from the engine, using a small pry bar for leverage. Move the pump outward, until there is only about 1/4-inch of play in the belt when you wiggle it by hand. Tighten the top power steering mounting bolt, using a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket, then tighten the bottom bolt completely.

Install the alternator drive belt onto the top of the alternator pulley. Route the belt downward and around the front of the air conditioning compressor pulley, if the car you are working on is so equipped. Route the belt around the front and under the air conditioning compressor, to the bottom side of the crank pulley -- from the bottom the the crank pulley the belt will return to the alternator. If the Camry that you are working on does no have air conditioning, simply route the belt around the alternator, then around the crank pulley.

Push the alternator away from the engine, using a small pry bar against one of the mounting bolt tabs on the alternator. Do not push or apply direct pressure to the body of the alternator, as you can bend the soft aluminum cage around the alternator, rendering it useless. Move the alternator until you only have about 1/4-inch of play in the belt when you wiggle it with your hand. Tighten the top alternator mounting bolt with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket, then immediately tighten the bottom mounting bolt.

 How to Replace the Belts on a 1994 Toyota Corolla

How to Replace the Alternator Belt

Loosen the alternator pivot bolt on the side of the alternator and the alternator lock bolt on the alternator bracket with a socket wrench.

Turn the adjusting bolt counterclockwise on the side of the alternator with a socket wrench to create slack in the belt.

Slip the belt off the alternator pulley and the crankshaft pulley.

Route the new belt over the alternator pulley and crankshaft pulley. Ensure the grooves of the belt are seated correctly in the grooves on the pulleys. The belt must be positioned in the center of the pulleys.

Turn the adjusting bolt clockwise to tension the belt.

Tighten the alternator pivot bolt on the side of the alternator and the alternator lock bolt on the alternator bracket with a socket wrench.

How to Replace the Air Conditioning Compressor Belt

Loosen the idler pulley lock nut with a socket wrench. The idler pulley is located next to the air conditioning compressor. Turn the adjusting bolt counterclockwise to create slack in the belt.

Slip the belt from the air conditioning compressor pulley, idler pulley and crankshaft pulley.

Route the new belt over the crankshaft pulley, idler puller and air conditioning compressor pulley.

Tighten the adjusting bolt until the belt is tensioned with a socket wrench. Tighten the idler pulley lock nut with a socket wrench.

How to Replace the Power Steering Pump Belt

Loosen the pivot bolt on the side of the power steering pump and the lock bolt holding the pump to the bracket with a socket wrench.

Pivot the pump toward the engine to create slack in the belt. Slip the belt off the crankshaft pulley and power steering pump pulley.

Guide the new belt over the crankshaft pulley and power steering pump pulley. Pivot the power steering pump away from the engine to tension the belt.

Tighten the pivot bolt on the side of the power steering pump and the lock bolt holding the pump to the bracket with a socket wrench.

 How to Replace a Belt on a 2006 Camry

Park the Toyota Camry on level ground in a well-lit area. Open the hood, and locate the tension pulley. The tension pulley is behind the alternator in clear view and looks like a round piece of metal with a small metal arm on the top of it.

Pull the tension pulley arm toward the front of the engine, using the pliers. Pull the drive belt off the engine pulleys, starting with the tension pulley, and working your way down.

Place the new belt onto the engine pulleys, starting from the bottom, and working your way to the top. Pull the tension pulley toward the front of the engine, and place the drive belt onto the tension pulley.

 How to Replace the Belt on a 2005 Toyota Avalon

Raise the vehicle up on the passenger side using the automobile jack. Place the jack stand under the vehicle and raise it up to the frame.

Remove the cover under the engine using a wrench to remove the bolts. Turn the drive belt tensioner clockwise using a wrench to loosen the belt.

Remove the old belt from the vehicle and put the new one on. Turn the drive belt tensioner counterclockwise to put tension on the belt. Replace the cover under the engine and tighten the retaining bolts with a wrench.

Remove the jack stand from under the automobile and lower the vehicle to the ground.