How to Replace the Serpentine Belt in a Nissan Sentra
by Editorial TeamMany vehicles have a main drive belt or serpentine belt, but Nissan Sentra models may have two main belts that the manufacturer suggests checking for wear every 7500 miles or 6 months and replacing as necessary. A single belt runs the alternator and air conditioning compressor, and the power steering has its own belt.
Step 1
Find the lock nut and loosen it with the wrench.
Step 2
Loosen the adjustment bolt by turning it counter-clockwise until you can get the old belt off. The alternator has an adjustment bolt for the alternator belt, and the power steering component will have another adjustment bolt for its belt. The alternator adjustment bolt is often underneath the water pump hose.
Step 3
Install the new belt by putting it onto the pulleys in the same way that you got the old belt off. Nissan generally includes a belt routing diagram on a decal under the hood.
Step 4
Turn the adjusting bolt clockwise to get tension back on the belt.
Step 5
Make sure the belt is seated correctly on each pulley.
Step 6
Tighten the lock nut.
Tips
- Because of the way the Nissan Sentra's two drive belts share the crankshaft, it can be necessary to remove one to replace the other. That's why some mechanics recommend replacing both of the drive belts at the same time.
Things You'll Need
- Wrench set for adjusting bolts (size may vary for a specific model)
- Replacement belts
Warnings
- This guide refers to a limited set of model years for the Nissan Sentra: from 1995 - 2004. Although most recent Nissan Sentra models have similar systems, check your specific owner's documentation for any changes to the serpentine belt setup or settings.
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