Changing the 3 belts on my 1996 4runner.

[drwilmerton]

Hi I am brand new to this forum and was hoping for some advice. I am in the middle of changing the 3 belts, ( alternator, Power steering and AC belts) I have all but the AC belt off and can not get any thing to budge. Not sure if I am missing a bolt or what. But I am about to lose my mind!! haha not really but pretty frustrated. Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance!
Doug

 

[Brian R.]

You have to loosen the idle pulley lock nut and the adjusting bolt, both.

 

[TheDurk]

You have to loosen the idle pulley lock nut and the adjusting bolt, both.

Red and blue circles, respectively. This is from below, looking up.

 

[4x4mike]

Yep. I had to remove the skid plate and get a look at things from underneath. From my experience the couple of times I've had my belts off, the hardest part is the power steering belt/adjuster/pump. I ended up buying some stubby wrenches to get in there. For me it was a must to put enough tension on the belt to keep it from squeaking.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Here you go. Use OEM or Bando belts though:

How to: Change Drive Belts 3.4 L 5VZ-FE - YotaTech Forums

 

[TheDurk]

Here you go. Use OEM or Bando belts though:

How to: Change Drive Belts 3.4 L 5VZ-FE - YotaTech Forums

Awww, now he's gonna know where I stole the pic from.

 

[Diesel_Dog]

I was playing with my belts this weekend and ran into the same problem. Remove the skid plate and loosen the red bolt in the picture above. This will release the tension and allow you to back out the adjuster bolt.

I also found removing the air box made removing the power steering belt a lot easier.

 

[infamousRNR]

can anyone confirm these are the right part numbers for the 3 belts???




. . . .

 

[s20004runner]

those are the correct p/n.

That pic is upside down btw. the tension adjuster bolt (circled in blue) is at the bottom, not top.

 

[ashtuzhed]

I ended up buying some stubby wrenches to get in there.

 

[infamousRNR]

I'm looking to take a road trip down to LA from SF in 3 weeks.. Anything else I should consider besides belts??? Mine are squealing... I was also going to change my spark plugs and wires... Looks like NKG blue wires and denso spark plugs are the way to go....



????

 

[Lastplace]

Big shout out to LilCaesar and Durk!!! Was going to take to the shop.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

big shout out to lilcaesar and durk!!! Was going to take to the shop.

. . . . . .

 

[Lastplace]

U2 stir fry!!!!

 

[Lastplace]

Changed the belts out yesterday on my daughter's 2000. As others have said buy 12 & 14mm gear Wrench, regular and stubbies are a must. I made the mistake of shopping for them on Xmas eve. Ended up having to buy a full set to get the stubbies, still for $85 ($70 off) it's a nice set.
Toughest part for me was the AC tensionor. Who ever designed having it right above the cross member should be punched in the face. 15 years of rust made it tough loosen. Note to those doing this repair, lefty loosens the tension, righty tightens.

Big thanks to Stir Fry, your write up was awesome. The alt belt was shot, my daughter would have been left on the side of the road.

Once again, Thank You!

Not a bad look 15 yo Runner