Serpantine belt replacement

[montanawinter]

I need some help with steps on replacing the serpantine belt on a 2000 LX470. Upon first glance in the engine compartment I don't quite know where to begin - which pully releases tension etc. Also, any special tools? Any luck with non OEM belts?

 

[Kaderabek]

I don't have the foggiest how to get it off, don't have our 100 around to look at, stop to think of it haven't seen the thing in a week.... Anyway, if it looks difficult to remove, go OEM. That's my motto. Really more of a preachy bit of advice than a motto, since I don't have it emblazoned on our family crest or tattooed to my cheek or anything. OEM.

Have a FSM?

TJK

 

[Jim_Chow]

One note about serpentine belts. I've been road cyling/racing for years, and the only broken belts I see in the bike lane/shoulder are serpentine belts. That suggests to me that they are more prone to breakage. I use only genuine Toyota belts and have never broken one.

 

[Jukelemon]

You need a Service Manual. It will tell you very specifically how to so the job. You really do not want to be guessing with the 100's although I would imagine it is pretty straight forward. If you really do not want to buy a manual, I will look it up for you.

 

[98LXand99LC]

Hey Jukelmon, I've looked at the FSM and cannot find a very detailed description on how to replace the drive belt. Looks like you simply have to loosen the nut on the belt tensioner and swap the belts. However maybe I'm looking at the wrong section, the index has two listing for drive belt and neither is very descript. Is that right?

 

[montanawinter]

From another board I got a description of where the tensioning pully is - second from the left. From there, the FSM should have a short description of what do do - or at least I would hope so. If anybody can help out I would appreciate it - if I can avoid buying a FSM (especially if it isn't detailed enough for this simple task) I will.

 

[Jukelemon]

In my experience with these FSM's, if there is a little description, then it is a simple process (there thoughts not mine). I will look it up tonight and post back.

 

[i4c4lo]

To the left of the water pump there is the tension pulley. If it makes you feel any better you can take a photo of the way teh belt goes around and then take it off. It is fairly simple since the belt will only have enough tension "if" it is put on properly.

If you are anywhere near the Bay Area (CA) I can help you.

Okay now with the s/c it is a b*tch!!!!!!!! to put on the belt.

 

[rph74]

If it is anything like the other serpentine belts I've replaced, there should be a tensioner pulley with a protruding bolt that swings when tension is applied with a wrench. My 93 SC300 worked this way, and it was quite an easy belt replacement. Much easier than the old V-belts.

 

[montanawinter]

{{Okay now with the s/c it is a b*tch!!!!!!!! to put on the belt.}}

What are you saying by s/c? Still haven't tried this project - I'm in Houston in a 95° / 100% humidity heat wave....will try this weekend.

 

[montanawinter]

OK so here's the skinny....all of that worry and the job was not near as difficult as I had originally predicted. There is a picture of the belt routing under the hood - on the left hand side - also the tensioner pully is pointed out on this diagram. Simply put a 14mm socket on the center bolt of the tensioner pully and give it some left hand torque to loosen and slide off the belt. Re-threading the new belt is about as tough as this job gets - I found that removing the oil filter access plate from the bottom skid plate gave me access to the lower pullys nicely. Entire job took about 15 minutes - got some good scrapes on my arms from the fan blades (I am guessing that Japanese don't have near as much meat on their arms so its no problem for them) and a little grease but other than that I had the rest of the day to suck down beers and be proud of my work. Now on to bigger and better things.