How do you install alternator belt on a 98 Mazda Protege?

Answer 1

if its a 1.6l try the following (a 1.8l is simply a stretched version so it would look the same). On both however I think you need to remove the Power Steering pump belt first. It is about the same difficulty as the alt belt. Pretty easy unless the p/s pump wont allow you to loosen tension for removal. If this happens, remove the 3 mounting bracket on the front that bolt the pump to the engine and tie it to the side while you replace the alt belt then manuever back into place when you are finshed... Put the car on ramps or otherwise elevate it so that you may easily access 1 bolt from underneath(14mm). Disconnect the battery. Remove the wire attached from the battery (10-12mm). On top of the alt there is two bolts. One is to loosen the alt on the mounting bracket (size is 12mm). The other is to remove tension from the belt for installation and removal (size 12). Neither of these top bolts need removed, just loosen. So, loosen both of these bolts. Crawl underneath and loosen the single bolt underneath the alternator (or at the bottom) enough so that you may easily adjust it from the top. This is a size 14mm and a wrench works best in this tight spot. If it sqeeks it may be too tight. If your battery light come on when you start it then its too loose and you must immediately stop the engine and correct the belt tension. Good luck