Car Fix DIY Videos

http://clublexus.com/how-tos is the leading Lexus IS, RX, ES, and GS resource for technical DIY guides. The serpentine belt powers many engine components, so replacing a cracked or broken belt is crucial to a smooth-running Lexus. For the full step-by-step article, please visit http://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/a/lexus-is-gs-how-to-replace-your-serpentine-belt-367281

The power to your alternator, power steering, and air conditioning is all delivered by the serpentine belt. If the belt breaks, you’ll lose power to all of these, the most important being the alternator. It’s best to replace the belt as soon as there are signs of large cracks or chunks missing from it to prevent it from breaking.

This easy job takes about an hour and costs from $30 to $100 to complete yourself, compared to the $200 to $400 you’d pay to get the job done at a repair shop.

This job requires a new serpentine belt, a 10 millimeter socket, a 14 millimeter shallow socket or serpentine removal tool, a Phillips head screwdriver, a cheater bar, and a plastic trim removal tool.

Step One – Gaining access

The serpentine belt is well hidden below the engine cover panels. Remove the plastic covers on both sides of the engine bay, using the trim removal tool to undo the fasteners.

Remove the air scoop held in by 10mm bolts on either side.

Perform a quick test to see if you can reach the tensioner pulley on the front of the motor with your 14mm socket or serpentine belt removal tool.
If access is restricted, remove the upper radiator hose for more working room.

Step Two – Remove the old belt

Get your 14mm socket or serpentine belt tool onto the tensioner.

With the cheater bar on the end, get it as close to the air intake as possible. Turn the tool towards the driver’s side of the car. This will release the tension on the belt.

While holding the tool in place to keep tension off, pull the belt of whichever pulley is closest to you.

Once the belt has been removed from a pulley, release tension, get the tool out of the way, and remove the belt from the other pulleys.

Step Three – Install the new belt

Now you’ll need to get the new belt seated properly.

Work from the bottom up by dangling the belt down and hooking it on the lower pulleys first. Try to get it on every pulley except for the one you first removed it from since that was the easiest to access. While keeping the belt tight on the pulleys, get your 14mm socket or belt tool into place and release the tension to get the belt onto the last pulley.

If the upper radiator hose was removed earlier, reattach it now. Start the motor to give the belts a quick test. Make sure everything is installed properly before re-installing the air scoop and plastic covers. Any chirping or other out of place noises are a sign that the belt isn’t properly mounted on the pulleys.