Installing a new belt!

[shocar4]

i searched and came up with nothing....how hard is it to change the belt on a sc'ed solara...i just picked up a new poly kog and it looks like i have to remove some pulleys to get it off and the new one on! does anyone have any suggestions?

[krook]

it's been a while since i'd messed with my S/C. but from what i remember all you have to do is remove the idler plate and you can snake in the new belt from there.

[shocar4]

man by looking at it, i just don't see how you get the belt on there without taking half the motor off! does anyone have any more details, how to get the idler plate off and how to get around the tensioner?

[shocar4]

please help guys!!!

[QuickSEV6]

TRD used to have copies of all of thier instruction manuals on thier website. I was going to send you a link, but since they redid thier website, the link is no good. Sorry.

[shocar4]

this stinks, i just bought a new belt and it looks like heck to change it out...if anybody has any experience with this, please let me know the easiest way!

[trd4life]

There is no easy way. The idler pulleys have to come off and possibly the tensioner. Pay close attention to the position of the belt before you take it off, so when you put it back on its positioned right. I have messed up several times, bolted all the pulleys down only to find out that the belt is on the wrong side of the tensioner. Its a pain in the ass.

[Vampire]

1. From the passenger side of the hood, use a 3/8 inch ratchet and move the belt tensioner to the left to ease the tension on the belt. The 3/8 inch square that a socket attaches to will fit into the back of the tensioner arm. Set the ratchet to remove. Also make sure you position the ratchet so when the arm moves to the right (after you removew the belt from the SC pulley) you can get the ratchet off
2. Slip the belt off of the SC pulley.
3. Remove the pulley plate assembly which includes removing the coolant overflow hose and and disconnection of the ground wires.
4. Pay attention to how the belt is assembled on the pulley plate.
5. Remove the belt tensioner from the plate and replace the belt.
6. Reassemble in reverse order.

That's about it without making it a long instruction manual. Good Luck.

[JavaJoe_2]

I don't know if you have these, but they might help. TRD Install manual.

[shocar4]

1. From the passenger side of the hood, use a 3/8 inch ratchet and move the belt tensioner to the left to ease the tension on the belt. The 3/8 inch square that a socket attaches to will fit into the back of the tensioner arm. Set the ratchet to remove. Also make sure you position the ratchet so when the arm moves to the right (after you removew the belt from the SC pulley) you can get the ratchet off
2. Slip the belt off of the SC pulley.
3. Remove the pulley plate assembly which includes removing the coolant overflow hose and and disconnection of the ground wires.
4. Pay attention to how the belt is assembled on the pulley plate.
5. Remove the belt tensioner from the plate and replace the belt.
6. Reassemble in reverse order.

That's about it without making it a long instruction manual. Good Luck.

okay i can see how all this works except the pulley plate removal....how do you get to that bolts to loosen it? from the bottom of the car?

[shocar4]

bump

[shocar4]

okay last try before i tear my car apart....anyone else have any ideas of the best way to take the idler plate off....it looks like it has bolts on every side of the car...top and bottom!

[Vampire]

You have to remove 2 pulleys. The topmost one and the one towards the firewall. Then you need a metric allen socket on a log extension and you remove the 2 allen head bolts from the top. If you don't have the metric socket, you need to get one. I don't remember the size. I think it's either a 10 or 12 mm. If you can't do it yet then you should take it to someone.

quote="shocar4"]okay last try before i tear my car apart....anyone else have any ideas of the best way to take the idler plate off....it looks like it has bolts on every side of the car...top and bottom![/quote]

[shocar4]

i decide to wait until this weekend to do it.....thanks vampire i will try your idea, it makes sense now!

[siennasc98]

i decide to wait until this weekend to do it.....thanks vampire i will try your idea, it makes sense now!

I fabricated this stand to securely hold the dynamic belt tensioner while removing or installing the top (groove) idler pulley. This stand is very helpful especially when dealing with a new or shorter belt or you don't have extra helping hands to assist in moving the 3/8" drive socket.