Done!
I was a little hesitant to try this one - as it could mean getting the car stuck at home if I stuffed it up. So I went slowly......
I noticed the serpentine belt had some small cracks in it. I imagine most would classify it as normal or serviceable, but I do not like to leave these things. It is going on 8 years old. The stretch belt was in good condition - but since there - might as well just do it too.
Not too hard - but I found it fiddly.....possibly as I have never done this before.
How I did it:
All turning of the crank shaft was clockwise and with the electrical off and battery disconnected.
1. Jack car - right front wheel off.
2. Remove plastic splash guard (4 plastic screws)
3. To remove serpentine belt - I simply used a large shifter on the tensioner end to lever to full release (my breaker bar is 1/2" and the hole on the tensioner is 3/8".....placing an adapter to the breaker bar was not possible as the space is too tight) - released tension and flicked it off at the alternator. This was in from the top of bonnet.
4. From bottom - removed serpentine belt.
5. From bottom - Used a gates small stretch belt tool on the stretch belt and a bit of small power cable. Placed the gates tool in between wheel and belt with the cable directly behind it - rotated the crank shaft with a breaker bar whilst pulling cable around belt to side of car. The stretch belt simply popped off with about a quarter turn of pulley. I saved it instead of cutting it off in case I stuffed up!
6. Replacing stretch belt was a pain in the rear - tried using the Gates tool to pop it on. After 45 mins gave up and used 2 x larger zip ties holding belt in place on pulley and simply rotated crank. Popped on and simply snipped ties off as rotated through top of pulley.
7. Replaced the tensioner. 8mm bolts and the space is very tight to work in. 3 bolts - took long time to finally undo - but even longer to put new tensioner and bolts back in. I worked from all angles for this one. - Mazda you owe me a new set of skin for my knuckles $&^&&$&!!!!!
8. From bottom - Placed the serpentine belt back on - started at crankshaft, under tensioner and also under the pulley at front. From top - Had a small loop next to the alternator where I placed a loop of thin electrical cable through the serpentine belt. Used shifter to release the tensioner to full release and used the electrical cable to pull over the alternator pulley. Rotated crankshaft to place electrical cable to position where I could remove it.
9. Rotated crankshaft through a few revolutions to ensure all seated and running properly.
10. Battery back on.
11. Splash guard and wheel back on
12. Off jacks. Start and test run. Tests OK - pack up tools and stop swearing.
Lessons learned - zip ties are my friend! Mazda owes me some skin! Placing car on hoist would make it easier.
Tips - find someone you dislike intently to rip their knuckles apart on the 3 x 8mm tensioner bolts. Allow a few hours to take it slowly if not done before.
Feel free to rip this apart if you can find an easier method.....ie a 3/8" breaker bar would make pulling that tensioner a bit better.