1st Gen How-To: Change your belts (P/S, A/C, Alternator) 2.4/2.7L

Not sure what the life is, but the ones I just purchased came with a 3 year warranty, so, if I still have it in 3 years, I plan to change them again. Easy to do, doesn't cost much, and beats sitting beside the road broken down.

All 3 belts cost me $32 after 30% discount at Advance Auto Parts (online) using a coupon code. An updated list of Coupon Codes can be found here: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/advanceautoparts.com

 

I just bought my Taco, it has 104k on it and I changed the belts just because. They were original, dried and cracked so I'm glad I did it. Cheap insurance....... Here's a link that may help. http://www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear/inspection Good luck!

 

great pic. and steps..thanks for the info.....big help...kip

 

What size is the tensioner bolt that adjusts tension on the alternator? My bolt rattled out... Thanks

 

did this last night, it was a 2 beer job. (2001 2.7L with A/C)

no need to take off the fan shroud bolts other than the top two for the airbox line (just take the top 2 off and move the line above the throttle.)

I took the skid plate off and it was super easy to get it all done

 

Thanks so much. You're a saver, belt broke off and replaced it in no time thanks to you.

 

subd

 

Thank you for this post.
I had no problems following this and changing the belts.

Thanks Again.

 

So I went to Autozone to pick up all three belts for my 2003 2.4L Tacoma and two of them are different than the part numbers that the OP posted in the beginning of this thread. They gave me the correct one for the alternator according to the original post (304K5), but for the power steering they gave me a Duralast 437K4 (the OP lists it as the 440K4...), and for the air conditioner/idler they gave me a 343K4 (OP lists it as 342K4 which Autozone says they don't even carry...).

Does anyone know if the belts they gave me will work? I'm thinking it's been a while since the OP made this thread so maybe the manufacturer changed what it thought should be used on the truck or something? Having said that though, I would tend to trust the OP on his recommendation as he seems to know exactly what he's doing with this job. I already called two different Autozone stores to double and triple check that the ones they gave me were the right ones for the job. According to all of them, the ones they gave me are the correct part numbers in their system for my truck. Any help here would be GREATLY appreciated! This will be my first attempt at changing belts in anything and I'm already going to be tripping over myself to get the job done even if I have the right parts. The last thing I need is to start the job only to find out halfway through that I have the wrong ones. That would definitely be a bummer.

Hopefully someone can help... Thanks in advance!!!

 

Seems like I used the op # on my 2.7 and one was too short/long end up going back for a different belt.

 

Well the odd thing is that having read through this whole thread, the one belt that some people seem to have trouble with being too small would be alternator belt. Strangely that's the only belt that the OP and Autozone have as being the same. Do you remember if that's the same one you had trouble with???

 

do you have to torque the pivot bolts? the haynes manual says nothing but hand tightening

 

Hey, my ac belt broke because the tensioner pulley was jammed against the tensioner housing. After I took off the pulley, I noticed there was no washer or bushing to hold the pulley away from the housing. Does anyone know what the ac pulley assembly should include? I think the mechanic I took it to may have forgotten to reassemble things correctly when I had him replace ac pulley a couple weeks ago. (It's no good asking because he was a backroad mechanic I happened to pass by on a road trip). Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

I realize this is an older post, but I just did this for the first time on my 97 4x4 2.7L Ext Cab. There are 7 bolts holding on that front skid plate. About the middle, on each side, are holes that have bolts up in them. That may be packed with road grime and mud, making it impossible to see there are bolts there, but there are. You remove those and it comes off. I removed the rear plate that has 2 bolts as well to get it all out to clean up a world of uck that was gummed up in there.

 

I just did this tonight. I will take a pic of my AC pulley in the morning and post it for you.

 

I got the recommended belt from Autozone, and if you do not really swing that alternator in you will never get that new belt on. Just back that tensioner bolt way off and push that bad boy up/in to get maximum play. You'll get that belt on, then can pull that alternator back out no prob.

 

Thanks, this was really Helpful. I got belts from CarQuest:

Power Steering: K4254 (fit nicely)
Alternator: K3405 (fit nicely)
Water Pump/AC: K3454 (kinda small - had to get the idler pulley all the way down to get it on).

Would like some advice on how to correctly set the belt tension. I just did it by "feel" and things seem great but...

 

Timing belt...that is a different creature. This thread does not include anything about the timing belt, just FYI. Only the accessory belts.

 

I didn't know how much to tighten the adjusting bolt for the PS so I just tightened it 'til the surface of the head of the bolt met the surface of the bracket itself. I started my truck and heard no squeaking but I wasn't content. I loosened it PRETTY far then started it again... no squeaking, so I tightened it back to where it was... still no squeaking, then I tightened it some more for some reason. One thing led to another and I broke the bolt. So it is no longer adjustable... but there is still no squeaking.


Does this mean that it doesn't matter how tight the PS adjusting bolt is? Or if it even needs to be there in the first place?

 

There is actually a spec for belt deflection. I tightened it until I could wiggle it back and forth about 3/4". If you tighten the belt too much, you will wear out bearings and such by having too much of a side load.