Fitting New Belt

[gbtrans]

HI EVERYONE

I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 VX PETROL. NOT SURE ABOUT TENSIONER WHEN I FIT NEW BELT.

HAVE HEARD THERE IS A SPECIAL TOOL FOR THIS, IS IT REALLY NEEDED.

THANKYOU

[anchorman]

Hi gb

You mean the serpentine belt?

The tool is really a long socket bar in two pieces that allows a lot of leverage through a cranked handle. The pulley is spring loaded and you need to heave it back while you change the belt. This is a slightly different version but you can get the jist;

http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/30/hands-on-...tine-belt-tool/

and this is one you can buy in the UK;

http://draperpowertools.com/index.php?main...oducts_id=21816

You can manage without but as with most things the right tool makes the job easier.

Be sure to either make a sketch or take a digital photo of the belt before you remove it because trust me you can get in a right muddle about the routing.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

[gbtrans]

Hi gb

You mean the serpentine belt?

The tool is really a long socket bar in two pieces that allows a lot of leverage through a cranked handle. The pulley is spring loaded and you need to heave it back while you change the belt. This is a slightly different version but you can get the jist;

http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/30/hands-on-...tine-belt-tool/

and this is one you can buy in the UK;

http://draperpowertools.com/index.php?main...oducts_id=21816

You can manage without but as with most things the right tool makes the job easier.

Be sure to either make a sketch or take a digital photo of the belt before you remove it because trust me you can get in a right muddle about the routing.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

thankyou anchorman, so its called a serpentine belt? never heard that name before. was a mechanic till i retired 10 years ago, but motors have changed a lot since then. i feel confident to carry out the job now. cheers

[anchorman]

When you see it you will know why. Most of the pulleys have at least 180 degree contact and some have nearer 270 degrees. In that way they only need spring tension to drive them and the belt life is extremely long (usually 60k or more).