How do you change your serpentine belt on a 2004 Mazda B3000?

Answer 1

2004 Mazda B3000 Serpentine belt change.

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Tools needed: 15 mm box end wrench

Time: 1 hour

Last belt change 101,196 km

Part: Dayco Polycog 5060885 (always varify and compare old belt before installing new one)

Step 1

Make sure you have the correct belt. Double check the part number etc.

Step 2

Make sure you have the correct routing of the belt. This can be found a lot of the times on the fan cowling of the vehicle. Do not trust the diagrams that come with the new belt. If you have to draw a simple diagram then do so. Your diagram should be pictured facing the engine.

Step 3

Identify the belt tensioning pulley. This will be the one pulley with a small arm attached to it that will be making contact with the backside or smooth side of the serpentine belt. Do not confuse this with the fixed/non moveable idler pulley.

Step 4

Identify the correct direction you must push or pull to collapse the belt tensioning pulley. This can be done by placing a wrench on the nut in the center of this pulley. Make sure you use the correct size. I strongly recommend a box end wrench. With my 2004 Mazda B3000, 3liter, V6, place a box end of a 15mm combination wrench on the pulley nut with the wrench about horizontal. Push down with one hand as the pulley will swing in and remove the belt off the top large compressor pulley.

Step 5

At this point you will take the belt off all pulleys and the belt should be in one large loop on the outside of all pulleys.

Step 6

Place one part of the belt over a fan blade while rotating the fan with you hand. You should see that you are taking the belt through the gap between the radiator and the front of the fan. Once you have the old belt out be sure to check the length with the new one by placing them side by side. They should be very close in length.

Step 7

Start with Step 6 in the reverse order to get the new belt on. At this point I left the belt beside and off the compressor pulley and adjacent Power Steering pulleys. This will allow enough slack to complete the rest of the belt routing. At this point I found that it was easier to complete the center portion from underneath the front end of the vehicle.

Step 8

Repeat steps 4 to get the last portion of the belt on the compressor pulley. Check to see that the belt is on all pulleys with the correct routing as mentioned in step 2.

Step 9

Turn over engine but do not start it. This should allow the belt to automatically seat and align with various pulleys. At this point check for belt seating and position. If everything is good then start engine. Let the engine idle. Your belt should appear to be moving smoothly

Step 10

If your old belt is not badly worn I would keep it in case of emergency and a backup on long road trips.