Task: Change serpentine(drive) belt on M37 (VQ37VHR)
The service manual recommends that you inspect the drive belt after 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, inspect every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months. Replace the drive belts if found damaged or if the auto belt tensioner reading reaches the maximum limit.
FYI: My dealer charges $199.95 for this service
***Disclaimer: This is just a guide - I am not responsible for you messing up your car or making a giant mess. Please seek the help of a qualified mechanic or the dealer if this seems too difficult.***
Time: 0.5 hours max
Tools/Supplies Needed:
A. 3/8 inch Breaker bar/Socket wrench
B. Replacement serpentine/drive belt (I used a Continental Elite 4070795 Poly-V / Serpentine Belt bought off Amazon)
C. Cheater bar/pipe (I used the handle of my jack) to give you extra leverage
D. 6 mm Hex head/Allen wrench
Cost: Breaker Bar: $9.99 (already had that) + drive belt: $26.30
Breaker Bar
Serpentine/Drive Belt
From the Service Manual
Steps/Process:
I wrote one of the How To’s for this same procedure for the ‘06-07 M45, which btw has 2 belts that need to be replaced. There was some heated discussion about if this procedure could be done from above only, below only, or a combination of both. I did this from ABOVE only, and it was waaay easier than the M45. I Google’d change serpentine belt for Infiniti G37 to see how easy this was.
1. Remove front air duct (don’t have a pic of this, but you just remove the 6 or so clips) and it should easily come off. Use a flat head screwdriver to push up the center pin of the clip and then it should wiggle out.
2. You DO NOT have to remove the radiator fluid overflow reservoir tank or the hose on the LEFT. I have placed my breaker bar in the square hole of the pulley of the auto-tensioner (A on the inset diagram from the service manual) Just be mindful that the hose is there when you start pushing towards it.
3. Close up of breaker bar in square hole of the pulley of the auto-tensioner
4. Use cheater bar or pipe to push on your breaker bar/socket wrench
COUNTER-clockwise (towards the passenger side) to loosen the tension on the belt and so that you can put the hex head/allen wrench into the holding boss holes to lock the tensioner in place. This is a an even closer pic of the breaker bar in the square hole and the allen wrench in place. Again, be mindful of the radiator hose to the LEFT
5. Remove your old belt.
6. And like all good DIYs: Install in the reverse order of removal.
7. You may have to crank on your breaker bar/socket wrench to give yourself some extra slack when putting your new belt on, especially around the last few pulleys, ‘cuz it get’s a little tight. Give your pulleys a couple of turns
CLOCKwise, to make sure the new belt is seated/centered correctly in the grooves.
Luckily, there are images on the web for the proper routing of the belt, it took me a minute or two to realize I had routed it wrong- lol
You’re DONE!
Craig