3rd Gen. Tacoma Serpentine Belt Replacement

I just replaced the serpentine belt on my '19 and after many hours of googling had a very hard time finding a complete description of how to do this on the 3rd gen, so I thought I'd write up a couple things I learned and steps I couldn't find described.

This whole job requires nothing more than a 14mm socket, breaker bar, and a 5mm Allen Key.

Step one: use the 14mm socket on the breaker bar to rotate the belt tensioner counter clockwise creating slack on the belt. As the tensioner rotates you can insert a 5mm allen key into the service hole which will keep the tensioner in the slack position.



Step 2: remove the old fan belt by either cutting it or sliding it off the pulleys and then around the fan itself. I just cut mine with some wire snips.

Step 3: Slide the new belt around the fan and position it to be installed. It's finicky and a squeeze but very doable. Just be careful with the fan blades. I recommend removing any watches/bracelets/fitbits ahead of time.

Step 4: With the tensioner held in place by the allen key, you should be able to get the belt over every pulley without too much effort. Once the belt is installed rotate the tensioner counterclockwise until you can remove the Allen Key and then slowly back off the breaker bar to let it take up the slack.

Step 5: Double check that the belt is fully seated in every pulley. Grooves go to grooves and flat goes to flat.

Step 6: Finish the beer you started because this took less time than you thought it would



The two areas I struggled with were the service opening on the tensioner and squeezing the new belt around the fan. It's a super simple job that I spent way more time on due to a lack of clear guidance so hopefully this will help somebody.

 

Very nice , I've done many serpentine understand the concept but specifically for our trucks you did excellent write up

 

How many miles did you have on your '19 when you replaced the belt?

 

Nice post. I knew about the service hole but wasn't sure where it was. Now I know.

 

Thanks, honestly getting that 5mm allen wrench into the service opening is the key to making this simple. They reference a "pin" in the maintenance manual and I had no clue what they were talking about until I saw that little hole. One of those dope slap, lightbulb moments of "ahh, so THAT's how this works, damn I'm an idiot" lol.

That, and the "oh yeah, you have to get this stupid thing around the fan to get it on. Why doesn’t anybody show that in the youtube videos??"

Learning has occurred here, hopefully I can share it

 

40,115

 

This is excellent. I think I have squeaky belt syndrome and it's annoying af.

Which belt did you replace with?

 

Continental OE series.

$27 Continental OE Technology Series 4070834 7-Rib, 83.4" Multi-V Belt

https://www.amazon.com/Continental-...37------------&vehicleName=2019+Toyota+Tacoma

 

I just had mine replaced under warranty for the same reason per
T-SB-0098-20

https://www.tsbsearch.com/Toyota/T-SB-0098-20

 

The only problem is that outside of the 36K warranty it's not covered because it isn't an "internally lubricated component" of the drivetrain, or at least that's what I was told from multiple dealers.

 

The moderator should put this thread in the maintenance group.

 

It’s so easy on the new tacomas, takes five minutes and remember how it went on. The old tacomas with three different belts, that’s a challenge. One of the belt tensioners is near the bottom and don’t get the belts mixed up, two of them are similar lengths.

 

That’s too bad since they (Toyota) recognize that it’s an issue. Lucky for me I only have 34K miles on mine plus the extended warranty

 

Agreed. Fortunately it's about a 30 minute, $35 fix

 

Great DIY tip! Thanks!

 

I've changed many a belt, never knew about the tensioner keeper. Good on ya, OP

 

Nice my ‘17 is due for this. Should be the same I would assume. This seems like it should be doable by a novice home mechanic.

 

My ’16 is a tad over 5yrs just over 60k miles, no issues but have been thinking of replacing it and the plugs for that new car ready feeling. I could probably go a couple more years or 80k but I’m OCD.

Couple of things I do different though, I never cut my belts, I store it somewhere on the vehicle as a new one can go if a bearing starts to go and can damage it in a short time leaving me stranded somewhere.

Two, If I cut it and find I got one a tad short or long I’m SOL.

And I have never used the service port pin as I seem to work faster without it but I’m glad you pointed it out and explained it well.

Again great job, good write up, much appreciated

Cheers!

 

Not cutting is good for comparing old vs new, good point.

Depending on length of bar / length of tensioner travel / space available, I could see the tensioner keeper being really handy.

 

Damn and I just ticked over 37K