Serpentine accessory belt

Getting ready to change out my serpentine belt on my 4.0, and I have a question. I popped the hood tonight to evaluate the project, and am curious if you have to slip the old belt around the cooling fan blades and loop the new one over the cooling fan blades as well. It looks like you do, and it doesn't look like it will be a good time. I ain't scared though

 

Here is a decent write up that Ive come across before.

 

yeah, just go around the whole fan. Put a 14mm socket on the tensioner, lift up.. pull fan off power steering pulley... then just pull it out around the fan. spin the fan back and forth a little.. itll go around it. To replace do the same thing in reverse.. Kinda lay the belt over the top of the water pump, route under idler on the right, and around the alternator and down loosely around the AC... its a little easier if the skid place is off so you can get under and help route it, but the if done from the top easiest way I found, is from the left side, grab a big bite of the belt and pinch it together between your fingers ,, stick the bite through under the fan pulley, and slide the bite over the tensioner pulley, and wiggle the pinched spot in between the balancer and water pump pulley. Get belt on all pulleys except the power steering.. Lift the tensioner again and feed over the power steering pulley. look it all over and make sure its on all pulleys properly. Easy peasy lemon squeazy. Takes about 5 minutes

 

Thank you guys......

 

Sub'd

 

Changed mine today, have 128k miles on my Taco. Wasn't too difficult. I do recommend taking off the skid plate as working from underneath makes it easier.

My belt seemed ok.

This page helped.

 

Did mine a week ago from under the truck,easy peasy.

 

Yep...it takes about 15 minutes, very simple. I wonder what a dealer would charge...

 

Whatever the flat rate book calls for in time @ shop rate + belt cost.

The livelihood of a good mechanic is based on how much faster he can work than what the flat rate calls for. Most good ones are able to get 50-60 hours of billing out of a 40 hour week.

 

I realize that, probably looking at close to $150 for a dealer service dept to do the job which is why I do most of my own maintenance. Being at the mercy of 'whatever the flat rate book calls for' isn't my thing.

 

Dealer did mine last week, quoted $165.00 Canadian taxes in. I complained that the truck only had 61,000 km (38000 miles) and shouldn't need a replacement so soon. When I picked up the truck they ended up charging 116.00.

 

Why did it need replaced so soon, did they say?

I did mine at 100,000 even though it still looked good but I figured I was on borrowed time with that many miles on the original.

 

If you "pin" the tensioner the job is a joke. when you shift the tensioner arm over to release tension, it has a hole in it, slide in Allen wrench or small straight piece if steel through it and into hole on the other side. The tensioner will be locked in place while you route the belt at your leisure.

 

I removed the skid plate and did mine from the bottom at 150k. It still looked good and I saved it as an emergency spare. I also changed the idler at the same time. When I did mine I put on a Goodyear Gatorback. Unfortunately they quit making those, they were great, quiet, belts.

 

Replaced mine at around 100K when I started hearing some squealing. A quick job from underneath.

 

Did mine at 116,000,belt was still just fine so I kept it as a spare also.Dealer wanted $200 parts and labor for a 15 minute job!

 

Damn! I feel even better doing mine for the $18 cost of belt!

I ended up buying a Bando belt, no noise so far

 

Mine was in for a bad injector valve and they said the belt was starting to make some noice. I hadn't heard anything prior to taking it in but don't have time to go back so told them to replace the belt. I did make it clear that I wasn't impressed that I was replacing the belt so soon especially where my wife has a toyota with over 180000 km and we haven't had to replace the belt yet. I think this is why they dropped the price a bit.

 

Did my own because I was not even going too pay my dealer $200,I ordered a Continental Elite (Gatorback) its totally quiet.

 

With the belt off, check each pulley for looseness and grinding. The water pump will be the most difficult as it has the fan and clutch attached. Do your best and check the weap hole for leakage. I found it easiest to replace from underneath.