Tightening Drive Belts

[Maritimer]

My power steering belt is making a great chirp sound. It gives over a quarter inch when pushed down, so I figure it needs tightened.

Now, it seemed like a big enough job for the garage to put the new belts on last month, and I don't think I could do that yet. I'm hoping tightening them up a bit is an easier job that I can do myself. However, I have no idea how to do this.

I tried the search here, and I tried my Haynes manual, but it just doesn't seem clear. I'm thinking if one loosened then they all did, so I might as well tighten all them instead of just the one.

 

[Jordan Petry]

I'm a big fan of loose belts, and 1/4" each way is pretty tight. I would replace the belt before I tightened that up any more. The tighter you get the more stress you put on the power steering bearings causing them to wear faster. It's not too difficult a job you just loosen the tensioner a bunch. If you wanna tighten it up more, the tensioner is located underneath the power steering pump and I believe is a 12mm. You need to loosen the mounting nut located on the front of engine, then tighten the 12mm adjusting bolt.

Again, I would recommend replacing the belt before tightening it anymore.

Jordan

 

[Maritimer]

The belts are new, just a month. The steering squeaks really loud if I turn tight, so I figure they may have loosened a bit over the past three weeks.

 

[Maritimer]

OK, I just had a look in the engine and I think I know which bolts we're talking about. If I loosen that mounting bolt is anything going to decide it wants to move on me, or will things only move as I adjust the tensioner?

 

[Jordan Petry]

No, if you loosen the bolt nothing will move on you. The tensioning bolt keeps it in place.

Jordan

 

[Maritimer]

No, if you loosen the bolt nothing will move on you. The tensioning bolt keeps it in place.

Jordan

Sweet. I have things move on me all the time--mostly fixing toys for my kids--and it pisses me off, LOL.

 

[Maritimer]

Worked like a charm. That tensioner is hard to get at, though. It's got about 1/4 inch give to it now. It was pretty floppy before, hence the squeal.

Now, I'm not sure what goes on in there with all the belts, but I wonder if I tightened just one by doing this, or all of them. I'm totally a novice at mechanics.

 

[TheDurk]

Worked like a charm. That tensioner is hard to get at, though. It's got about 1/4 inch give to it now. It was pretty floppy before, hence the squeal.

Now, I'm not sure what goes on in there with all the belts, but I wonder if I tightened just one by doing this, or all of them. I'm totally a novice at mechanics.

Each belt has it's own tensioner. The alternator is underneath the alternator. For the A/C you have to pull the skid plate and get to it from underneath--it works on the idler pulley. There is always a bolt you have to loosen, then another you have to adjust.

 

[bike]

Here's a guide I just used to remove my AC belt (the tensiorer bearing was squealling and I won't need AC for winter so for the short term I just removed it. It does go over all the belts and adjusting each one.

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

Pictures were quite helpfull and there's even a video to go along with it explaining all bolts to be loosened, and where they are.

 

[Maritimer]

Oh, wow. Thanks guys. That picture thread is going to be especially useful to me. The Haynes manual just wasn't cutting it with pictures. I'll probably tackle tightening the other two belts this week. They seem to have loosened quite a bit after being put in last month.

 

[chadsy]

Each belt has it's own tensioner. The alternator is underneath the alternator. For the A/C you have to pull the skid plate and get to it from underneath--it works on the idler pulley. There is always a bolt you have to loosen, then another you have to adjust.

Sorry for reviving an old post, but Durk, this helped me finally get rid of my squealing alt. belt!

 

[Diverse4runner]

If you do get new belts I would make them pretty tight they will stretch after the first couple 50 miles

 

[gmv4k]

I just spent some time trying to adjust my power steering belt the other day and now I can do it in a few minutes. I wanted to write down some tips to see if I can save somebody a little time and aggravation.

This is from the top of the engine.

Loosen 2 bolts on the power steering bracket (area).

1st bolt is on the tensioner

2nd bolt is the higher up bolt (there's a bolt in between which I thought was the bolt I needed, but it wasn't after moving the tensioner the full length).

I used a 14mm offset ratcheting wrench, the blue one from harbor freight

4 Piece Metric Offset Ratcheting Wrench Set

Look from the fan side and spot the tensioner... follow the bolt to the left on the other side and place the 14mm ratcheting wrench on it. I place my right finger on the tensioner bolt to add.... tension. And then ratcheted with my left hand. It's a pain, but it's not bad once you get used to it. If I remember correctly counter clockwise is loosen, as it should be.

Also remember you don't have to go too far either way to loosen or tighten.

I didn't have all the joints and extensions to get to it from the under the truck. Plus you can tell if it's tightening or loosening since your arms arm touching it.

I was totally flustered at first, but it's not that bad.

 

[trovergraywilson]

Bump.

Stupid question: I can't find it anywhere on here or on the parts websites (in a hurry @ work). Anybody got the part #s for the power steering, AC, and alt belts handy? Bando, OEM, or Gates? Mechanic installed 3 new ones, and tightened, in last couple of mos and they're squealing constantly. I'm done, worth it to buy the good ones and get them installed instead of cheapies.

Thanks.

 

[joshespdx]

Bump.

Stupid question: I can't find it anywhere on here or on the parts websites (in a hurry @ work). Anybody got the part #s for the power steering, AC, and alt belts handy? Bando, OEM, or Gates? Mechanic installed 3 new ones, and tightened, in last couple of mos and they're squealing constantly. I'm done, worth it to buy the good ones and get them installed instead of cheapies.

Thanks.

Here' are the belts I ordered from Amazon:

1. Gates K040420 Multi V-Groove, Power Steering, $12.30
2. Gates K040413 Multi V-Groove, Alternator, $13.41
3. Gates K040343 Multi V-Groove, A/C, $14.65

I was literally getting ready to go do this in the driveway and this thread bumped to the top. This forum is the best! :reddance:

 

[trovergraywilson]

This forum is the best! :reddance:

Preach! Any preference or idea about Gates vs Bando? Just got new belts put on after the old ones were almost delaminated and these are louder than the ancient ones from before. Want something that'll stand up to cold weather in IL. Thanks for your help.

 

[joshespdx]

Preach! Any preference or idea about Gates vs Bando? Just got new belts put on after the old ones were almost delaminated and these are louder than the ancient ones from before. Want something that'll stand up to cold weather in IL. Thanks for your help.

I've always used Gates on my vehicles, which have ranged from old GMC pickups to Mercedes to Toyotas. I ran Gates on my BMW in Wisconsin for 3 years. The vehicle was parked outside year-round and I never had one squeal. No disappointments!

 

[Pyral]

I get 5 seconds of belt squeal every time I turn my ac on at speed.

I’ve been told it’s a problem with a loose belt. Is the process of tightening up the ac belt on the 3rz the same as the 5vz v6?

My AC belt is 3 years old and has 40k miles, so not new but I don’t think it needs replacing yet.

 

[brillo_76]

I get 5 seconds of belt squeal every time I turn my ac on at speed.



I’ve been told it’s a problem with a loose belt. Is the process of tightening up the ac belt on the 3rz the same as the 5vz v6?



My AC belt is 3 years old and has 40k miles, so not new but I don’t think it needs replacing yet.

It's slightly different but similar as the ac compressor is in the same location.

Loosen nut on adjusting pully. Then tighten belt. Tighten pully nut done.

Probably a 14mm socket will be needed.

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