Rav4 Auxiliary Belt

[Mr Roy]

Hi,

I am a new member and would appreciate your help and comments.

I do all routine maintenance on my wife's Rav4 series 2 but am puzzled over what appeared to me a simple staightforward job of replacing the auxiliary belt. I have the US Haynes manual which shows a line drawing using a long reach socket to relieve the tension of the tensioning roller to slip off the belt stating 'use the wrench or socket on the hex. boss and turn clockwise to relieve the tension'.

I can see that the roller is mounted on a bracket which pivots on a post under pressure from the spring assy. but which 'hex. boss' is the one to apply the twisting action to? Perhaps the tensioning bracket is seized on it's pivot, is this possible?

Thank you.

[anchorman]

Roy

Please amend your profile to show more details on your model. Petrol or diesel?

The tensioner for most serpentine belts is only spring loaded. The life of the belt is extended by having low tension, multiple V's to increase area and a large proportion of the belt in contact with the pulley. I have looked through my files and don't actually have the specific information you are looking for but the entire workshop manual is on line from Toyota here;

http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/toms_find...d=1〈=En

You need the model code from the passenger side b pillar. It will probably be configered like this as an example "ACA30". This will take you exactly to your model in the manual.

Generally the tensioners have a hex or square drive in the pulley mounting braket and you need only to apply a turning moment to oppose the tensioning spring. You may be able to peg the tensioner in the belt relaxed position.

A word of advice. When you look at the belt installed it will look obvious where it runs but when you take it off, trust me it will by like a crypton factor puzzle. Either take a digital photo or sketch it so that you can route the belt properly when re-fitting.

Cheers

[Mr Roy]

Roy

Please amend your profile to show more details on your model. Petrol or diesel?

The tensioner for most serpentine belts is only spring loaded. The life of the belt is extended by having low tension, multiple V's to increase area and a large proportion of the belt in contact with the pulley. I have looked through my files and don't actually have the specific information you are looking for but the entire workshop manual is on line from Toyota here;

http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/toms_find...d=1〈=En

You need the model code from the passenger side b pillar. It will probably be configered like this as an example "ACA30". This will take you exactly to your model in the manual.

Generally the tensioners have a hex or square drive in the pulley mounting braket and you need only to apply a turning moment to oppose the tensioning spring. You may be able to peg the tensioner in the belt relaxed position.

A word of advice. When you look at the belt installed it will look obvious where it runs but when you take it off, trust me it will by like a crypton factor puzzle. Either take a digital photo or sketch it so that you can route the belt properly when re-fitting.

Cheers

[Mr Roy]

Roy

Please amend your profile to show more details on your model. Petrol or diesel?

The tensioner for most serpentine belts is only spring loaded. The life of the belt is extended by having low tension, multiple V's to increase area and a large proportion of the belt in contact with the pulley. I have looked through my files and don't actually have the specific information you are looking for but the entire workshop manual is on line from Toyota here;

http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/toms_find...d=1〈=En

You need the model code from the passenger side b pillar. It will probably be configered like this as an example "ACA30". This will take you exactly to your model in the manual.

Generally the tensioners have a hex or square drive in the pulley mounting braket and you need only to apply a turning moment to oppose the tensioning spring. You may be able to peg the tensioner in the belt relaxed position.

A word of advice. When you look at the belt installed it will look obvious where it runs but when you take it off, trust me it will by like a crypton factor puzzle. Either take a digital photo or sketch it so that you can route the belt properly when re-fitting.

Cheers

[anchorman]

Hi,

I am a new member and would appreciate your help and comments.

I do all routine maintenance on my wife's Rav4 series 2 but am puzzled over what appeared to me a simple staightforward job of replacing the auxiliary belt. I have the US Haynes manual which shows a line drawing using a long reach socket to relieve the tension of the tensioning roller to slip off the belt stating 'use the wrench or socket on the hex. boss and turn clockwise to relieve the tension'.

I can see that the roller is mounted on a bracket which pivots on a post under pressure from the spring assy. but which 'hex. boss' is the one to apply the twisting action to? Perhaps the tensioning bracket is seized on it's pivot, is this possible?

Thank you.

Roy

I have now checked the manual. The hex nut you turn is the one just above and to the left of the tensioner when viewed from the front of the engine. It will be fairly tight as you will have to overcome the spring pressure and damper.

I hope this helps.

[SQUEALEYHEALEY]

I've done this job on a 2002 D4D The lock nut is in the center of the tension pulley hard up against the inner wing. 'I cut down a scoket and welded it to a strip of steel to make a special tool to un-tighten \ tighten the tension pulley'. Access is very restricted to adjust the auxillary belt I had to remove the coolant header tank! THIS IS NOT A QUICK JOB GIVE YOUR SELF PLENTY OF TIME!! You have to remove the auxillary belt to change the alternator belt, the adjustment of which is spring loaded. :ffs:

'Anchor man' it may be just me BUT I find that your links to theToyota tervice data always require payment. I do my own servicing to save cash do you know of any cheeper alternatives?

[Parts-King]

I've done this job on a 2002 D4D The lock nut is in the center of the tension pulley hard up against the inner wing. 'I cut down a scoket and welded it to a strip of steel to make a special tool to un-tighten \ tighten the tension pulley'. Access is very restricted to adjust the auxillary belt I had to remove the coolant header tank! THIS IS NOT A QUICK JOB GIVE YOUR SELF PLENTY OF TIME!! You have to remove the auxillary belt to change the alternator belt, the adjustment of which is spring loaded. :ffs:

'Anchor man' it may be just me BUT I find that your links to theToyota tervice data always require payment. I do my own servicing to save cash do you know of any cheeper alternatives?

I am a little intrigued to know what you mean by a cheaper alternative?

At one time of day ,we could receive several calls at any one time, from people wanting to know how to do a job on their own car, some were very capable and you could easily give advice, others were quite frankly unable to open the bonett.

Then came along EU Block exemption regulation 1400/2002 which changed the face of how information could be shared. No longer could the manufacturer sit on technical info, they had to share it with non-franchised repairers and the general public. Share does not mean FREE of charge, it means, to have available, at a reasonable cost, all of the technical information on the range of vehicles the manufacturer supplied. To this end, Toyota created a range of online repair manuals and other tech docs, these are found here, which is probably the link that anchorman has shared with you.

As for the cost, if you know the exact job you want to perform, you can have online use of a tech doc, which is printable for your own use, for the very small cost of 3 Euros plus VAT for an hour. Longer jobs may require more online time, a 1 day subscription is available at 16 Euro plus VAT.

In my book there should be no other place for you to look, carry out your own serviceing, fine, but when you need some expert advice, there is no more expert than the manufacturer. At 3 Euro, I don't think you could ever get a "Cheaper alternative"

Should you require any additional assistance, then Toyota also provide a telephone help desk which can be contacted on 0906 6610061. Once again access to this facility is on a pay per use basis.

Cheers, Kingo

[Mr Roy]

Hi,

I wish to express my thanks to 'Anchorman' and to Andy Smith for their help with my enquiry. I have visited the Toyota web site and made myself familiar with the system to access the information I require but, due to domestic circumstances, I have been forced to put the job on hold for a while. I will report back in due course.

Regards to you all, and thanks again for your time.

[anchorman]

I've done this job on a 2002 D4D The lock nut is in the center of the tension pulley hard up against the inner wing. 'I cut down a scoket and welded it to a strip of steel to make a special tool to un-tighten \ tighten the tension pulley'. Access is very restricted to adjust the auxillary belt I had to remove the coolant header tank! THIS IS NOT A QUICK JOB GIVE YOUR SELF PLENTY OF TIME!! You have to remove the auxillary belt to change the alternator belt, the adjustment of which is spring loaded. :ffs:

'Anchor man' it may be just me BUT I find that your links to theToyota tervice data always require payment. I do my own servicing to save cash do you know of any cheeper alternatives?

Andy

€3 is about £2. However, I will pm something that might fit your budget.

The manual shows a SST which is roughly what you described, a socket with a piece of flat metal welded on.

Regards

[Mr Roy]

Hi,

I had time to have another look this morning and found the 'G' spot! aka a hefty 19mm hex. boss at the top of the tensioner roller bracket, thanks. I have tested easing the tension using a lenght of water barrel to extend the solid half inch drive bar. It appears to be a 'knuckle basher' job unless care is taken.

Regards to you all,

Mr Roy

[Mr Roy]

Final post from me on this topic.

I have treated myself to a 600mm 'power bar'. With the aid of this, and a cut down 19mm socket, replaced the belt.

I would mention for any persons out there who are about to replace the aux. belt that the final pulley to receive the new belt, after releasing the tensioning roller pressure, is the water pump pulley as it has no flange.

Many thanks to those members who have advised me on this topic.

Mr Roy.