How do you change a serpentine belt on a 2003 toyota corolla?

Answer 1

Should be the same as my 2002 Corolla. First make a diagram of the routing of the belt. The smooth side of the belt goes against the smooth pulleys and the grooved side against grooved pulleys. Remove the plastic cover that's over the engine valve cover (there are two chrome 10 mm acorn nuts and two plastic retainers). As you stand on the right side of the car looking down at the belt you can see the belt tensioner on the left side of the engine assembly. There is a 19mm hex molded into the tensioner. Use a breaker bar or a flex handle with a 19mm socket and push or pull towards the front of the car. When the tension is released slip the belt off the alternator pulley. To install a new belt reverse this procedure leaving the alternator pulley for the last, you'll need to untension the belt to slip it over the alternator pulley. Once you do it you'll realize it's so easy you'll want to do it again just for fun.

New answer: you're right about the 19mm hex and the tensioner, but for a 2003 Toyota Corolla, it is much easier if you take the right front tire off and take the panel just underneath the right side of the engine (side engine cover assembly) away. You will be able to see the oil filter and some of the pulleys from the underneath of your car. (It would be easier if you could lift your car up as you would definitely have to work from underneath the car). The rest is just hard work. I would recommend two person (one working from above the engine and the other helping route the new belt around the bottom and most difficult pulleys). Oh, I strongly disagree with the last part of the first answer above: once you do it you WILL NOT want to do it again just for fun!

Extra comments: Don't spend any time taking off the right front tire off or the panel just underneath the right side of the engine away. Just Remove the plastic cover that's over the engine valve cover to give yourself some extra space, as described above use a ratchet and 19mm socket to hook onto the tensioner, pull it towards you as you are standing at the front of the car, remove the belt. Reverse the process to put the belt on. It's one of those deals where once you know how to do it, it is truly a 10minute job. Now, go do it!

Be sure to diagram the belt and pulleys before you take off the belt. This process should also work for the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 corollas.

Clarification as of 4/5/11 the tensioner is attached to the cast metal bar with the little shock on the firewall (toward vehicle rear) side of the engine block... the 19mm part is actually cast into the metal above the pivot bolt... this was vague to me, so I felt it needed some elaboration into this simple operation. A long breaker bar or a cheater pipe slid over a shorter one provides adequate leverage to move the tensioner with very little effort. Note: someone mentioned above to remove the right wheel and that is just not necessary at all. Removing the valve cover plastic is also not necessary, unless you have HUGE hands, in that case it's convenient.