Serpentine Belt (fan belt) Replacement

[Jerry2001]

Does anyone have a how to for the replacement of the serpentine belt for a 2002 Pathfinder with air. It is a 3.5L engine with air.

Thanks
Jerry

[canadflyau]

Did you ever figure it out? If so, please share.

[dynobunny]

hi, how do you change the belts

[88pathoffroad]

Use a wrench to de-tension the idler pulley/tensioner, then slip off the old belt. Install the new belt exactly as the old one came off and use the wrench again to loosen the idler pulley and allow the new belt to be installed/tensioned. It's very simple, actually.

[momud]

yes, simple. just make sure to replace the belt in the same position as it was before.

[6T9_CHGR]

remove lower plastic skid shield under truck, 14mm wrench to loosen the center nut on each of the pullies, ratchet with extention & 14mm socket to loosen each tensioner bolt to remove the belts.....reinstall in the following order.
I would drive the car for a day with the plastic shield off to re tension the belts (they stretch when new a bit)

[ealderman17]

need to know how one can adjust the air conditioner belt?

[ealderman17]

I need to know where the adjustment screw is for the air conditioning unit is so I may make an adjustment to the belt. thx

[turbino]

[quote It's very simple, actually.[/quote]

If it was very simple why did the service shop charge me $151.17 including tax to replace two (2) serpentine belts? Did they charge me way too much?

[Witeagle]

Simple as stated above. Price isn't wrong for the job if the belts were included.

[turbino]

Thanks for your response, Witeagle. I feel better now. Yes, the belts costing about $25 were included.

[thumper300zx]

(the following was on a 2004 NISSAN QUEST, but based on the fact they have the same engine, I'm sure the procedure is nearly the same)

Yet another fine example of A JOB THEY DON'T WANT TO DO, so it's priced accordingly. From start to finish, INCLUDING THIS WEB PAGE, this took me less than 30 minutes.

I suggest the following:

LONG 14mm box wrench
3/8" ratchet with LONG swivel extension, or universal joint
14 mm REGULAR 6 pt socket head (a deep socket is too long for this job).

Jack up car. Support on jack stands. Remove any splash guards who's tabs have no already busted off on your Quest (crappy design).

Untighten with the long box wrench, the 14mm nut from the idler pulley.



Then, from the top, loosen the slackening bolt.



The pulley may be rusted in place a bit -- take a hammer from the bottom and give the bottom of the idler pulley some SQUARE taps...should loosen it up.

Now, if loose enough, remove the belt (if not, slacken more from the top). Remove the belt and replace.

A very nice GoodYear GATORBACK belt runs $12 or so from Checker or any other parts store. This is a 10 minute job, honestly -- for less experienced DIYs, it will take a bit of time, but it's a great job to start learning as it is VERY simple. My guess is Nissan is charging you $80 for 1 hour of labor (no 1/2 hours) and $50+ for the parts + $20 for a smile when you pick it up after leaving your car ALL DAY for them to get to it.

$150 for this job is a total, complete and utter joke. I guess it would be a wee-bit tougher if you are also doing the PS belt, but I checked my PS belt and it is like new with no dryness or cracking, whilst my serpentine (AC/Alternator) was horrible and has been for some time.

[777ralph]

Thank you, Thumper, for an informative post. Detailed info like this is what we NEED. I've spent the last hour reading stuff like "it's easy" and "just finished replacing my belts" with NO explanation. You even listed tools required. You ought to write tech manuals for a living. Other posters take notes!
Thanks again.
Ralph (Was a bit frustrated, now I'm OK!)

[Shumakriss]

Great post thumper!!!

Saved me so much time :)