Time for new belts... I could use some advice. (10 Viewers)

[bdeakin]

My '94 FJZ80 has squeaky belts, and they look old enough to be original. The Cruiser has 120k on it. I'm a pretty good do it yourselfer ( ), but after my two 3VZ-FE's I a little learly of ripping into it.

How hard is replacing the drive belts? (guidance welcome)
OE, or quality aftermarket? (i'm leaning OE)

The dealer 'round here wants $150 for it, and a toyota specialty shop (here in SLC, Utah) wants $90. The dealer would use OE, and the Toy shop would use "better than oriiginal" (their words) belts. For around $100 I could get an FSM, and that would greatly facilitate this and other projects in the future, but I don't know whether to buy the FSM and do it myself, or just pay someone else to do it and have it be done. I guess that depends on how hard it is. I plan on getting an FSM, but the question is whether to push for it now, or later.

Thanks!

 

[cruiserdan]

Buy a set of OEM belts for less than 25 bucks and do it yourself.

If you had success on a 3VZ a 1FZ is not a problem.

 

[bdeakin]

That's just it. I failed two attempts <embarrased look> at the 3VZ. I lacked a manual, and I just couldn't figure the things out.

 

[atijerino]

I also have a '94 with squesky belts. I am not sure of it is the belts. COuld it be any of the pulleys, alternator, S/P or A/C?

Thanks,

Antonio

 

[bdeakin]

I've put soapy water on the belts to make them quiet temporarily just for that reason. I fairly sure it's the belts, because with the soapy water, they were quiet as can be.

 

[semlin]

Listen to Dan. Use OEM belts only. They are cheap and durable. Aftermarket belts will squeal, guaranteed. The aftermarket shop is very wrong.

It is a one banana job and any newby can do it. Buy the FSM in lieue of paying labour but even if you are too cheap it is fairly simple and if you search you should find fairly detailed discussions on how to do it. The trickiest part is tightening and loosening the lock bolt on the slide at the alternator.

BTW, is the shop in SLC the "Toystore" or something like that? If so those are the guys who inspected my truck for me before I flew to pick it up and "missed" a number of important and obvious details (like a big ass dent in a rocker panel). I am not a fan.

 

[bdeakin]

The "toystore" hasn't inspired much confidence in me, but I won't judge them too harshly yet. I'll search on the procedure. I'll stick with OEM belts. I'll snag them this afternoon.

Thanks!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Why don't you get them from Cdan?? Way less and you'll get the correct parts the first time.


DougM

 

[bdeakin]

I picked up the belts from the dealership down the street for $23, which was about Cdan's price. I wanted to get it out of the way sooner than later, so that's why I picked them up locally.

It took me 1.5 hours, and now the 'cruiser is squeak free. Wow... that was fun, in a argh! sort of way.

Thanks Again.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Most definitely go with the OEM as mentioned. There is no other option.

Cdan rules too. There is no other option.

 

[seabeecruiser]

I just changed my belts today. It was a major pain in the ! I had a difficult time fitting my big ole hands in the areas they were needed. Took me about an hour and 15 minutes to change them. I used napa belts. Wished that I had used oem, but I get a discount at napa and cheap old me had to go that route. The napa belts have notches on the back sides and sing while the engine is running. I think the noise will stop after the belts wear in a little, but the noise is driving me fawking nuts. I may wind up buying the oem belts and doing it all over again

 

[No power]

I would have to agree to go with oem parts.
I usually do not have good luck with after market parts.
Mostly because of universal fits.
Also buy the fsm,it will take out the frustration and the guess work!!!

 

[bdeakin]

On my previous cars, I used whatever was cheapest at the car-part-o-rama. For my jeeps that seemed ok, and I had quite a bit of success. Odd thing is is that OEM parts from a good dealer (including Cdan) are pretty competitive. The local dealership is quite nice to me and is just as close as AutoZone, so for parts needs I just go to the dealership. When it comes to tools, that's another story

 

[miked]

i bought my first set of belts from kragen just the other day. guy comes back with two belts. one for a/c and one for alt. i blinked at him and told him there were three. he actually debated this for a couple seconds. wow...
so he gets a second alt belt for me and i leave. next day i'm showing him how the two alt belts he gave me are actually different sizes even though same part number. again he debates me as to if it's a problem or not. i have to explain that they share an idler and i can not adjust them indepentantly of each other.

went straight from there to dealer and now have the right belts. my buddy however is running non-oem belts and has no squealing or fitment problems.

 

[e9999]

i bought my first set of belts from kragen just the other day. guy comes back with two belts. one for a/c and one for alt. i blinked at him and told him there were three. he actually debated this for a couple seconds. wow...
so he gets a second alt belt for me and i leave. next day i'm showing him how the two alt belts he gave me are actually different sizes even though same part number. again he debates me as to if it's a problem or not. i have to explain that they share an idler and i can not adjust them indepentantly of each other.

went straight from there to dealer and now have the right belts. my buddy however is running non-oem belts and has no squealing or fitment problems.

IIRC Dan has mentioned in the past that the OEM dual belts come attached to prevent that problem. (Can't imagine they actually measure them and pick and choose for perfect match, frankly, but at least this way you're reasonably sure they're the same batch...?)