The accessory (serpentine) belt and tensioner is straightforward maintenance — a cracked belt or a weak tensioner causes squeal and can shed.
Steps:
- Note or photograph the routing first.
- Relieve the automatic tensioner (wrench/breaker on its pulley bolt or square drive) and slip the belt off.
- Inspect the tensioner — spin the pulley (roughness = bearing), check it holds tension; replace if weak.
- Fit the new belt to the routing, release the tensioner onto it, confirm it's seated on every pulley.
Gotchas: get the routing exactly right — one pulley missed throws the belt; replace a tired tensioner with the belt.
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