240sx: HOW TO REPLACE YOUR DRIVE BELTS ON S13 / 91-93 240SX SE / KA24DE

[sanioll]

DIY for people who want to know!! LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY 0-10 SCALE: 3 <--IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE PUSHING DOWN ON STUCK ALTERNATER. ITS A PIECE OF CAKE, JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.

I will let the pics do the talking. After putting new belts on, make sure they are tight within the specs. Too tight=bad!!

*************************************************if you're using FireFox browser, right click on the pics, and select view image to see full size. Firefox usually shrinks them down if youre running on a small screen and low resolution.*****************************************************

Modified by sanioll at 1:52 AM 6/10/2005
Modified by sanioll at 3:37 AM 11/12/2006

[sanioll]

FIRST YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC UNDERCOVER. SCREWS ARE OLD, AND YOU PROBABLE GOING TO BREAK COUPLE. SPRAY SOME PB BLASTER. iTS NOT THAT IMPORTANT., JUST REMOVE THAT THING.

pIC SHOWS LOCATION OF UNITS.

[sanioll]

TOOLS NEEDED:

--JUST REGULAR WRENCHES, RATCHET WITH EXTENSION BAR TO GET TO ADJUSTING BOLTS FOR LOOSENING THE BELTS.

why?? BECAUSE THOSE BOLTS LOCATED UNDER THE COOLANT HOSES, ETC.

--BELTS. HERE I'M CHANGING ONLY POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR BELTS ONLY. I HAVE REMOVED MY A/C COMPRESSOR BELT.BELTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR $20, FOR BOTH.


Modified by sanioll at 1:38 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

ON TOP YOU START REMOVING STUFF, TO MAKE ROOM.

--INTAKE TUBE COMES OUT--MAKE SURE TO PUT CLEAN RAGS INTO MAF/INTAKE AS SEEN IN THE PICS(#2)--DO NOT DROP ANY FLUIDS INTO OTHER HOSES.--FAN PLASTIC COVER COMES OUT TOO. TOP SIDE ONLY. PIECE OF CAKE. JUST MAKE SURE TO UNCLICK ON SIDES AND TAKE OUT 2-3 SCREWS.=====================================================

I REMOVED UPPER COOLANT HOSE TOO(#1), SINCE I WAS DOING FULL COOLANT FLUSH TOO. NOT RECOMMENDED IF COOLANT IS FULL. THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL USE RATCHET WITH EXTENSION BAR.
Modified by sanioll at 1:39 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

LOOSEN THAT BOLT UNDER THE POWER STEERING UNUT, FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE.

JUST USE A REGULAR WRENCH. LOOSEN IT, DO NOT TAKE IT OUT.
Modified by sanioll at 1:19 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

COME OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. NOW ON TOP, ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

LOOSEN THE TOP BOLT ON POWER STEERING UNIT. IT WILL TAKE A LOT, JUST LOOSEN A LOT. MAKE SURE ITS NOT COMING OUT TH OUGH..

THEN PUSH DOWN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP, PUSH HARD. IT WILL TILT A BIT TOWARDS ENGINE, AND BELT WILL COME LOOSE.

TAKE OUT THE BELT. DONT PUT NEW ONE ON!!


Modified by sanioll at 4:12 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

NOW UNDER THE VEHICLE, ON THE RIGHT SIDE. USE REGULAR WRENCH TO LOOSEN THE MIDDLE BOLT ON THE ALTERNATOR. JUST LOOSEN, DONT TAKE IT OUT.


Modified by sanioll at 1:23 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

OKAY, NOW BACK ON TOP. ON THE LEFT SIDE, START LOOSENING THAT BOLT ON THE ALTERNATOR.

THIS IS WHERE RATCHET WITH SMALL EXTENSION BAR COMES TO HELP.

AS YOU SEE, ****LOAD OF HOSES BLOCK IT.

LOOSEN IT, THEN START PUSHING DOWN ON ALTERNATOR. IT IS A BITTCH TO MOVE, BUT IT MOVES AFTER 10 MINUTES OF STRUGGLE.

I EVEN HAD TO LOOSEN TEH MAIN BOLT ON ALTERNATOR THAT HOLDS IT TEHRE. IT HAS BEEN 14 YEARS THERE, SO YEAH IT IS TIGHT.
Modified by sanioll at 1:26 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

AFTER YOU TAKE OUT, BOTH BELTS (POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR.)

--FIRST PUT ALTERNATOR BELT ON, SINCE IT IS LOCATED ON THE BACK.

--TIGHTEN THE ADJUSTING BOLT TO REQUIRED TIGHTNESS, THEN TIGHTEN THE BOLT IN THE MIDDLE. SEE TORQUE SPECS ON THE FIRST POST PER FSM.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--SECOND PUT ON POWER STEERING BELT, AND USE ADJUSTING BOLT TO TIGHTEN IT TO REQIURED SPECS, THEN TIGHTEN THE BOLT IN THE MIDDLE PER FSM.

=====================================================

CHECK THE TIGHTNESS WITH YOUR HANDS OR WITH SPECIFIC TOOL THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOW PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AS IT WAS BEFORE, FAN PLASTIC TOP COVER, INTAKE TUBE AND CONNECT EVERYTHING, LINES, HOSES IN CORRECT PLACES, WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE ON THEM.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

START THE CAR, LOVE 0% BELT SQUEAK.

USE THE VEHICLE LIKE THAT FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN CHECK THE TIGHTNESS OF THE BELTS, AND THEN PUT THE UNDERCOVER BACK ON.

P.S. Don't forget to follow all road laws, regulations and drive safe.

Modified by sanioll at 1:34 AM 6/10/2005
Modified by sanioll at 1:48 AM 6/10/2005

[sanioll]

SORRY FORGOT TO ADD THIS IN THE MIDDLE.

THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS AFTER YOU REMOVE THE UPPER PLASTIC SIDE OF FAN TO MAKE SOME ROOM.

WHEN YOU PUT BELTS ON, JUST PASS IT AROUND FAN BLADES.

**** OH AND MOST IMPORTANT THING, TAKE OUT YOUR BATTERY'S GOD DAMN CONNECTIONS. YOU DONT WANT YOUR ENGINE TO START UP AND DESTROY YOUR ARMS.

[phuphyter]

Good write up. I'm about to change my belts too.

Prepare to be immortalized in 240 General as this thread is going to be stickied...

[2slow2go]

how tight should it be? i dont have a tool to measure torque but if youw ere to press down upon the belt how far would it go down