Need belt change tips & tricks

[Outback]

Guys, I'm lookin for any advice / tips / tricks / experience with changing out the three belts on my '93. :-\

The PO had put on some cheapo Gates belts that are the "cog" type and one of the two alternator belts massively self destructed and wrapped itself around the fan shaft and such. The other one is lookin' pretty worn with cords hanging out. :

I noticed something was wrong when the belts started squealing on startup a couple of days ago. I opened up the hood today to find one missing

Anyhow, I'm off to Toyota to get the proper OEM belts Monday and put them on. You know, it really sucks when you HAVE to drive your '72 FJ40 on a beautiful 70 deg. day like today when your 80 is down I hated it. :

So, if anyone has any advice on how to make my job easier, let me know. All I have is the Haynes manual right now :-\

Jody.

 

[ryanjl]

I've found that it makes it much easier if you not only loosen the tension pully, you completely remove it. When you put the new belts on, put the removed tension pully on the belts before putting the belts on the other pullies, then lign up the tension pully and re-install it.

Other than that, just the obvious things: remove skid plate, you can get the steering stabilizer out of the way by removing the braket it attaches to on the US passenger side, then swing the stabilizer and bracket out of your way.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Jody,

Do a search, as I posted several tips from doing my '93 that will save you time. No need to remove the pulley, etc. Be sure the dealer gives you a matched pair - Toyota gets them from Mitsubishi and they've come tied together with coarse twine both times I've done this service.

DougM

 

[ryanjl]

[quote author=IdahoDoug link=board=2;threadid=11916;start=msg108820#msg108820 date=1077512864]
Jody,
No need to remove the pulley, etc.
[/quote]

The first time I changed the belts I got Gates belts form my local parts place; kinda an emergency thing leaving me no time to wait for the dealer to order any in. I was able to put them on without removing anything.

But a few months later when I replaced the Gates belts with Toyota ones, they were so tight on the pullies I found it tremendously easier to remove the tensioner pully. All you have to do to remove it is loosen the tension adjustment bolt all the way, then take the axis bolt you've already had to loosen completely off--really just a few more turns of the ratchet overall. Made it a lot easier than trying to work a tight belt over a double pully. But if the new belts are big enough to get on without removing the pully (as they were with me and the Gates belts), then you shouldn't need to do it.

 

[cruiserdan]

Fan/Alt matched set, 90916-02353-83 $12.99

A/C 99332-10910-83 $10.42

 

[Rookie2]

C-dan,

Am I missing something here? The stealer quoted me about a 100 bucks for the OEM tri-fector a few months ago. I've heard of "smart shopping", but were am I missing this one.

Thanks,
Rookie2

 

[cruiserdan]

Tell ya what, BUY IT NOW FOR

How does 50 sound?

I'll send them out to you right now



I have no clue as to why they wanted so much of your cash ???

 

[Rookie2]

I'll be contacting you soon for that, and a little birf package, once I (or better yet, the wife) re-coups from the weekend .

Thanks,
Rookie2

 

[Outback]

Well, it's done. That was easy. And the belts, with some discount were $29!

IdahoDoug, I searched the archives and found the thread you talked about. That was just the info I needed to get the job done efficiently. Piece of cake. Just loosen the tensioner on the alternator and the idler pulley and the belts come right off.

However!!!!! Some bonehead mechanic or PO never bothered to tighten the locking bolt on the alternator and the nut on the idler pully I found both of them loose! POs man... POs... :

Anyhow, I really didn't have to do much of the work, my daughter Emily knocked out that belt change with ease... PaPa had to retrieve her from under the rig before she started on the knuckles "Fis it Daddy, fis it..." "I hepped, Daddy... I hep" She's so darn cute

 

[Outback]

Yeah, that just about does it... I don't think I forgot anything.

Time for a cold #6... Er, uh Milk, yeah mee-mees mee-MEES...

I'm pretty sure Momma's gonna be mad about the grease on my jammies...

 

[IdahoDoug]

Oh man. Those are some cute pictures. My daughter loves to help as well and I'm hoping to inject a little of this into her life so she can handle minor car emergencies, but still wear dresses and ribbons in her hair....

The Toyota belts are indeed tight, but I've done this twice and never had to remove anything. I've heard others describe removing the sheetmetal splash plates under the engine, etc.

Glad you got it done. Can't remember if I posted this on the other thread, but I went back in and tightened the new belts up a few turns a couple weeks later after the belts had worn in.

DougM

 

[GXO]

One of the highlights of 2003 was my son (then just under 2) walking over to the tool bag, pulling out a socket, finding a bolt on the ground that matched in size, and walking over to the truck and trying to put it back in a hole.

I have 2 boys now...my wife thought she was gonna get them to ride horses....muhahahah!

 

[cruiserdan]

<<<<< "the belts, with some discount were $29!" >>>>>>>


Hmmmm..

The combined Toyota list price is $23.41 :-\

 

[ryanjl]

[quote author=cruiserdan link=board=2;threadid=11916;start=msg109496#msg109496 date=1077631979]
<<<<< "the belts, with some discount were $29!" >>>>>>>


Hmmmm..

The combined Toyota list price is $23.41 :-\

[/quote]

They must have bigger dogs. ???

 

[sjcruiser]

Dan,

Around here in the bay area, I haven't found any dealer that goes with list prices yet

When stoping by my dealer to get a warranty service done (front axle inner seals), I picked up two gallons of coolant for almost $40 (approx. >$18 bucks each plus tax). Man, it's worse when you mention in another post that these should be around $12 a gallon.

Regards,
Frank.

 

[DVader]

[quote author=cruiserdan link=board=2;threadid=11916;start=msg109093#msg109093 date=1077564957]
Fan/Alt matched set, 90916-02353-83 $12.99

A/C 99332-10910-83 $10.42




[/quote]

And I got it even cheaper than that! From you know who (Santa D) ... plus free shipping.

Rolly

P.S. Dan, got the seat belt, thanks.

 

[DVader]

[quote author=sjcruiser link=board=2;threadid=11916;start=msg109688#msg109688 date=1077655225]
Around here in the bay area, I haven't found any dealer that goes with list prices yet

Regards,
Frank.
[/quote]

Could be worse. The dealer here quotes me above the list price! ??? What the ___??? When I asked why is sell price higher than list, the answer - 'That's what the computer says.'

Rolly

 

[Outback]

Well, he told me that was with my discount... That's the last time I buy from them.

They recently had to discontinue the TLCA discount for everyone, but said he would keep me personally in the system with the same discount since I have driven so much business for him. I wish it wasn't this way. The dealership is right across the street from where I work.

I'm lookin' for a new dealership to get the TLCA discount at now... That sucks.

I'm tellin' you CDan, if I wasn't in a hurry for the belts to get the rig back on the road I would have orderd them from you buddy. When I can plan ahead, you'll be the first one to call.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Dan,

You just reminded me of a similar 'highlight'. My son was 18mos old and already highly mobile. I was in the garage putting some things right on my leased Montero/Pajero before turning it in the following week. The inspector they always send around the month before you turn these in had found several expensive items from me wheeling it. One such item was the rear bumper had a stinkin' ding about as deep as a dime and the same diameter and he wanted the whole bumper replaced for $560 courtesy of my wallet. So I'd pulled it off to hammer the ding out (took two gentle swings and you could no longer see it :). My son made off with one of the special bolts that hold the bumper on (custom curved and chromed heads, etc) and I could not find it. After the kids were in bed, I was out in the back yard with a flashlight, etc. No luck.

The next morning, I asked him if he knew where "the bolt" was. Now mind you, this was the first time I'd said a thing about it to him and he couldn't talk yet. He wobbled to the garage door and pointed to it. I opened it. He backed down the 3 steps and I followed him to the Montero. He walked around to the far side, dropped on all fours and crawled a foot under the truck and pointed up. Unbelievable! There it was, neatly tucked into a hole in the frame where I'd have never seen it. Kids are great - what a hoot!

DougM

 

[Beowulf]

Great story Doug!
-B-