Replace an alternator belt on a 2002 Nissan sentra?

Answer 1

just did it today. Stay focused, sockets all mm, 14mm,12mm,8mm, both 1/4 inch drive, and 3/8 in drive. extensions, short ones, 14mm box wrench a long one, 12'' inches long at least for that one bolt on the alternator you can never reach, slim and long. long flat screwdriver, get both belts, serpentine and Power Steering/water pump belts. OK, now, jack up car on right front side after u loosen lug nuts , remove wheel, remove plastic cover hiding location of belts. purchase a new idler pulley, just the pulley. steering pump has both a locknut and an adjustment bolt. loosen lock nut, do not remove any nuts thru this entire job...... loosen adjustment bolt 1/4 to 1/2 inch out. loosen one bolt holding pump, now you can move it to loosen belt enough to remove the belt. this must be done first, so u can now proceed to remove the serpentine belt. Relax, stay focused, proceed. the 12mm socket came in handy , yes ? use the 8mm socket to loosen the adjustment bolt below/beside the alternator, wind it out about 3/4 inch or less, remember, do not remove any bolts, nuts, etc., just belts! If you want , you can cut the old belts off, but make sure u have purchased the correct belts, very important, I would have measured the existing length of belt. use a piece of wire, string, wrap around outside of belt, then, measure . this is critical because the different manufacturers must have different tapes, and they show (2) lengths, the outside length, and the length that rides the pulleys, inside length, this is the most important. so, don't short change yourself. be absolutely positive that you have purchased the correct belt. Loosen (2) bolts holding the alternator @ its pivot. (underneath), ok, both belts are off, yes? Now , remove and replace the idler pulley. install serpentine belt, you did make a diagram before you started, yes ? use common sense and patience. get that belt on, wiggle , move, alternator, to get that belt on . can be easy, but can have its moments... just do man, just get it on! Then , redo all you undid, reposition , tighten, adjust, and put that pump belt on, thats the piece of cake, reposition, tighten, adjust back the way it was , your done! start engine, make sure everything is good, acceptable, smooth, quiet, and the proper adjustments were made, so there is only 1/4 " inch deflection @ center of each belt , between the pulley centerlines, if two pulleys are 14 "inches apart, then your lucky number is seven! Halfway, 1/4 " inch deflect, no more, no less.