How to: Install new Belt Tensioner, Accessory Belt and AC belt

Speed3.5

chasing electrons ..
:
16' Mazda3, MSP
DIY step by step :

2005 Mazda 3 2.0L

Tools needed:
-12mm socket
-14mm socket
-21mm socket
-3/8 drive ratchet
-1/2 drive ratchet
-3/8 drive extension
-1/2 drive extension
-flat screw driver
-stretch fit tool

1-Preparation:

-Jack the car up, used a low profile (harbor freight) jack and raised the front by placing it in the middle of the lower cross member, secure the car with jack stands.

IMG_0263.JPG


-Remove front wheels, plastic under carriage cover and the passenger side plastic cover so you can access the belts.

IMG_0234.JPG


-Open the hood, remove engine cover and the belt tensioner will be on your left side of the engine

IMG_0232[1].JPG



2-Removing Old belts.

2A- AC/StretchFit Belt *it can be removed by simply cutting it too*

- Power steering hose is secured right next to the crank shaft pulley which will interfere with the stretch fit tool to pass by so you'll have to loosen the inner nut and push the bracket far up top and get the hose under its mounting location to free up some room for the tool to pass by.

IMG_0241.JPG


-Using the stretch fit tool, place it snug between crank shaft pulley and AC belt.

IMG_0238.JPG


IMG_0240.JPG


- Using 21mm socket + 1/2" drive extension + 1/2" drive ratchet, rotate the crank shaft clock wise, you can also remove the belt by placing the tool on the other side of the crank pulley and rotate the crank pulley counter clock wise. Carefully using a flat screwdriver pry the belt out of the pulleyas you rotate the it.

IMG_0245.JPG


IMG_0246.JPG



-Remove the old belt.
Old vs New
IMG_0250.JPG


2B- Accessory Belt

- Using a 14mm socket + 3/8" drive extension (~5" long) + 3/8" drive ratchet push toward the firewall on the left side of tensioner pulley, this will free the belt from tension and carefully take it off and over the extension drive then push it down.

IMG_0247.JPG


IMG_0248.JPG


-Remove the Accessory belt
Old
IMG_0252.JPG


Old vs New
IMG_0253.JPG


3- Removing & Installing accessory belt Tensioner

3A- Removing

-Using 12mm socket and a small extension loosen up the 3 bolts securing the tensioner and remove it.

IMG_0255.JPG


IMG_0256.JPG


3B - Installing

- Before you install the new unit, inspect the bolts and/or clean them if needed. I don't have the specific tq # but given the aluminum head, tight it up using the extension with bare hands then give it another 1/2 turn with ratchet, I'm guessing ~35lb/ft tq down the tensioner belt to the head.

Old vs New
IMG_0259.JPG


4- Installing new Belts

4A- Accessory belt

- Start from the bottom, crank shaft pulley, align the belt onto the inner half of the crank shaft pulley then work your way up over to the free pulley then around the alternator and position it upward toward the tensioner pulley.

- Repeat the same procedure of pushing the tensioner belt pulley toward the firewall by using 14mm socket + 3/8" drive extension + ratchet on the left side of the pulley, you should be able to get the belt over the pulley, if you can't then see if you can push the pulley further forward and/or pull up the belt then once the belt is lined up with the pulley groves slowly let the pulley retract back and therefore putting tension on the belt.

IMG_0265.JPG


4B- AC/StetchFit Belt

-Line up the belt around AC pulley then line up the belt on the groves to the left side of outer half of crank shaft pulley and on the highest point of the belt put the stretch fit tool.
IMG_0260.JPG


-Rotate the crank shaft pulley clock wise as you maintain the line of the belt getting around the crank shaft pulley, don't forget to keep an eye on the right side of the AC pulley as it will try to get out of the AC pulley groves, try to push it and keep it aligned with your thumb as you rotate the crank shaft pulley with the other hand until it goes into.

IMG_0262.JPG


IMG_0266.JPG


-Check if they are installed right by rotating the crank shaft pulley 2-3 revolutions and keep an eye on both belts for any signs of miss alignment or jumping off the pulley/grooves , if so then you'll have to get back to the install procedure of respective belt.

-Don't forget to install back the power steering hose in its bracket by lowering the bracket and securing it with the nut, install back the passenger side plastic cover and the plastic undercarriage cover.

FYI - install your undercarriage cover because otherwise belts will pick up debris and wear out quicker.
 
Last edited:
DIY step by step :

2005 Mazda 3 2.0L

Tools needed:
-12mm socket
-14mm socket
-21mm socket
-3/8 drive ratchet
-1/2 drive ratchet
-3/8 drive extension
-1/2 drive extension
-flat screw driver
-stretch fit tool

1-Preparation:

-Jack the car up, used a low profile (harbor freight) jack and raised the front by placing it in the middle of the lower cross member, secure the car with jack stands.

IMG_0263.JPG


-Remove front wheels, plastic under carriage cover and the passenger side plastic cover so you can access the belts.

IMG_0234.JPG


-Open the hood, remove engine cover and the belt tensioner will be on your left side of the engine

IMG_0232[1].JPG



2-Removing Old belts.

2A- AC/StretchFit Belt *it can be removed by simply cutting it too*

- Power steering hose is secured right next to the crank shaft pulley which will interfere with the stretch fit tool to pass by so you'll have to loosen the inner nut and push the bracket far up top and get the hose under its mounting location to free up some room for the tool to pass by.

IMG_0241.JPG


-Using the stretch fit tool, place it snug between crank shaft pulley and AC belt.

IMG_0238.JPG


IMG_0240.JPG


- Using 21mm socket + 1/2" drive extension + 1/2" drive ratchet, rotate the crank shaft clock wise, you can also remove the belt by placing the tool on the other side of the crank pulley and rotate the crank pulley counter clock wise. Carefully using a flat screwdriver pry the belt out of the pulleyas you rotate the it.

IMG_0245.JPG


IMG_0246.JPG



-Remove the old belt.
Old vs New
IMG_0250.JPG


2B- Accessory Belt

- Using a 14mm socket + 3/8" drive extension (~5" long) + 3/8" drive ratchet push toward the firewall on the left side of tensioner pulley, this will free the belt from tension and carefully take it off and over the extension drive then push it down.

IMG_0247.JPG


IMG_0248.JPG


-Remove the Accessory belt
Old
IMG_0252.JPG


Old vs New
IMG_0253.JPG


3- Removing & Installing accessory belt Tensioner

3A- Removing

-Using 12mm socket and a small extension loosen up the 3 bolts securing the tensioner and remove it.

IMG_0255.JPG


IMG_0256.JPG


3B - Installing

- Before you install the new unit, inspect the bolts and/or clean them if needed. I don't have the specific tq # but given the aluminum head, tight it up using the extension with bare hands then give it another 1/2 turn with ratchet, I'm guessing ~35lb/ft tq down the tensioner belt to the head.

Old vs New
IMG_0259.JPG


4- Installing new Belts

4A- Accessory belt

- Start from the bottom, crank shaft pulley, align the belt onto the inner half of the crank shaft pulley then work your way up over to the free pulley then around the alternator and position it upward toward the tensioner pulley.

- Repeat the same procedure of pushing the tensioner belt pulley toward the firewall by using 14mm socket + 3/8" drive extension + ratchet on the left side of the pulley, you should be able to get the belt over the pulley, if you can't then see if you can push the pulley further forward and/or pull up the belt then once the belt is lined up with the pulley groves slowly let the pulley retract back and therefore putting tension on the belt.

IMG_0265.JPG


4B- AC/StetchFit Belt

-Line up the belt around AC pulley then line up the belt on the groves to the left side of outer half of crank shaft pulley and on the highest point of the belt put the stretch fit tool.
IMG_0260.JPG


-Rotate the crank shaft pulley clock wise as you maintain the line of the belt getting around the crank shaft pulley, don't forget to keep an eye on the right side of the AC pulley as it will try to get out of the AC pulley groves, try to push it and keep it aligned with your thumb as you rotate the crank shaft pulley with the other hand until it goes into.

IMG_0262.JPG


IMG_0266.JPG


-Check if they are installed right by rotating the crank shaft pulley 2-3 revolutions and keep an eye on both belts for any signs of miss alignment or jumping off the pulley/grooves , if so then you'll have to get back to the install procedure of respective belt.

-Don't forget to install back the power steering hose in its bracket by lowering the bracket and securing it with the nut, install back the passenger side plastic cover and the plastic undercarriage cover.

FYI - install your undercarriage cover because otherwise belts will pick up debris and wear out quicker.

Wouldn't it be easier to just remove the 4 bolts that the AC compressor is on, remove the belt slap new belts on and the bolt back the AC compressor?? I mean that's the way I did it.
 
Great write up. I did my 07 2.0 last weekend and the Gates tool didn't fit over the crank, so I put 4 zip ties through the crank, turned it, put 4 more in and turned it again and just at the point I was gonna put in 4 more, the belt snapped perfectly into place.
 

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