When to replace the serpentine belt?

Good advice to keep the old belt as a spare, with life enough to get you out of an emergency situation.

 

My advice to anyone replacing their belt, is to have a diagram or draw one yourself before removing it. The routing is so weird I don't know if I would have figured it out without it or take me so long I would have regretted it.

 

Good advice! I have a printed copy in the bag with my spare belt.

It's a shame Toyota didn't put a diagram under the hood. I thought someone around here made a sticker for us, but I might have be mistaken.

Welcome and thanks. I learn someting new every day here.

 

Thanks Crom! I will do it this weekend...just watched a video, looks pretty simple. Glad I saw this thread.

FYI my truck is a company vehicle. I'm in sales, tons of miles, but I love driving and these trucks are great.

 

I just do the 50k and out thing regardless of the visual. Kept the last one as spare because visual OK for that usage. Did find tensioner pulley bearing about to crap out when changing wp about 10k ago. Ordered new one and swapped it out a couple of days later.

 

I agree, I used the one in my Haynes manual, but for a few pennies Toyota could save someone a headache with a diagram under the hood or maybe a reason for them to have you go to the dealership to replace?

 

When I changed mine, I drew a diagram on the garage floor with a piece of chalk.

 

I hear you about the cold months coming, hope this winter was like the last.

 

I think I might just change it anyway seeing how my Tacoma is 10 years old and the next time I change it could be when it's 20 years old if I have it that long.

 

I have 174k on the original belt. Replacing next week, with help of this thread and crom. Thanks

 

WOW, 174,000?? I guess the quality of today's belt are higher than the older type.

 

I replaced my belt at 60k because it squeaked on a cold start. New OEM Bando belt from NAPA was 20 some bucks. Old belt is in the truck, just in case. If you run a belt til it breaks, you won't be driving much farther.

 

Another maintenance item to do on my 09 Prerunner.

 

There is also this as an option.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gates-racing-oem-serpentine-belt-replacement-for-1gr.355220/

 

After seeing this thread last week I decided to change the serpentine belt yesterday. I did the job from underneath the truck, was pretty simple. Had to remove the skid plate, four bolts, no sweat.

The original belt had 112,000 miles on it, didn't look bad but I figured I didn't want to push my luck.

 

I wouldn't bother keeping the used belt in the truck, you will never use it. The only time I've seen a belt break is when there is a mechanical failure.

 

I replaced mine at 51K miles with the (so called) premium Dayco belt.
4K miles later I'm noticing rubber dust on the belt. Turns out one idler has some side play. Ordered the Gates pulley kit and replaced all the idler pulleys and belt. The old pulleys were worn much to my surprised. The one with side play must have been the belt wear culprit.
Noise from under the hood is substantially reduced and I now have a piece of mind that the problem is behind me for the next 50+K miles. The Dayco belt is now the spare in the tool box. Hopefully to help someone else out and not me!
No regrets on replacing belt and pulleys at 10+ years and 55+K miles. Just wish I had looked at the pulleys before I replaced the belt the first time.

 

Same thing I did- printed out a copy of the diagram and stuck it in my owner's manual in the glove box. I carry the old one as a spare since it doesn't take up much room; leftover habit from my VW and Land Cruiser days.

 

I was on a trip to PA a few years ago with the family when the belt on my dad's car broke and left us sitting. Now I carry a spare in the truck just cause.

 

Learn something new every day.