Thank you from a disabled man, who with a little neighborly assist was able to change my ac belt in my 2001 Forester. Your video gave me the confidence as well as the knowledge of how. Thank you very much! More videos please. You are articulate and to the point. Not one action you preformed was wasted. Again...Thank You! From California with love.
Just replaced the alternator/power steering belt on our 2009 Forester. Total time from leaving the house, grabbing toolkit, replacing belt, returning toolkit, back in the house...8 freakin' minutes! And $11.00! I kid you not. Subarus rock!
TheDIYGuyDOTnet hey I just did my alternator and put back the belt I even marked the the thread by scratching it to make the mark my question is even though I marked it it feels tight how do I check how much is to tight cause if I run on the highway doesn't the belt tighten even more ? How much is to tight? Or do you think we're I marked it it should be ok ? Your video is great it you actually speak of tension on belt.
I saw another video where a guy said when you push on the belt between the pulleys you should have about 1/8" to 1/4" play. I'm not a car guy so he, and therefore I, may be wrong. Hope it helps though.
Howdy!! I just wanna say a massive thank you for this video!! I just saved myself over $300 to DIY. Plus it was easy to understand and no sponsors added or mentioned!!
Awesome! Just watched this video to replace the belts in my 2003 Subaru Baja. I’m not super mechanically inclined but this video was easy to follow and I got the job done. I got the deep sockets and PB Blaster at Walmart and saved $100 on having this done at the shop! 🎉 also learns something new and built some mechanical confidence. Thank you!!
Wonderful. I followed your CLEAR instructions to the T. Within an hour I was done and my beast was purring like the cat that got the canary. Thank a lot! I am definitely following you and keep posting so that we take care of our Subaru's .
One thing you forgot to mention (messed me up) was that bolt to adjust the tension for the A/C is a left-hand tread bolt. So opposite for tightening and loosening the tension pully on that belt.
Good video,straight to the point, looked easy enough for me, with a lot of mechanical experience and tools, to do my 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback . However, when I got to the point of loosening the locking bolt for the AC belt tensioner, there was insufficient clearance between the bolt and an OEM fan motor mounted on the back side of my radiator. With my short (total length 7/8") 12 mm socket alone on the bolt, there was only 1/4"clearance between the base of the socket and the fan housing, not nearly enough to attach a 3/8"-drive ratchet wrench. The tensioning bracket is U-shaped around both sides of the bolt, so you cant get an open-end wrench on it. My 1/2" offset closed-end wrench is just a bit too big to grab it and I didn't have a 12 mm offset. Fortunately, I happened to have a length of 3/8" square steel bar (rod) lying around and was able to cut off a length (7/8") to insert it in the socket drive hole and grab with a 3/8" open-end wrench to loosen the bolt.
One of the best how-to videos I've ever seen... No bull, no fluff, and a BEAUTIFULLY detailed and demonstrative instructional video. Excellent... Really!
Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for posting this video! $22 and 18 minutes (and that's only because I had to play/pause along with the video) and I am done. Saved me $130 over what Jiffy Lube wanted and now I know how to fix this myself. You rock!
Thank you, very informative. When I heard what the stealership wanted to charge i laughed at them. Your video has given me the confidence to do this myself, thanks for saving me money!
dude thanks for the easy/ straight forward video. exactly what i need. for some reason a lot of other videos i find they remove coolent, and are fixing a lot more then i think i need to replace
Great video! My 80-year old dad has squealing belts on his 2000 Forester L. I'll be using this video to get the tools and instructions to replace them for him. Thanks a lot!
What a great guide! I'm planning to tackle this job next week when the belts I've ordered have arrived. It looks easy enough even for a non-mechanic like me, so I'll give it a go and I'll let you know how it went!
Thank you so much!! Thought the belts were the issue, here I had some work done a few days (needed a new power steering pump/steering brackets installed). The idiots at the shop completely forgot to put the adjustor bolt back on to hold the alternator in place, therefore the front belt was loose, your video saved us
You're welcome, Glad we could help before it ended up throwing the belt off and leaving you on the side of the road. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Hopefully the shop still had the adjuster bolt to put back on.
Excellent video, thanks so much for making this! I did notice one small omission. After removing the covers and loosening the first two 12 mm bolts, my alternator refused to budge. I tried pushing on the bolt, hammering the bolt, pushing on the alternator; nothing worked. I even contemplated standing on top of the alternator! Then I noticed the little 12 mm mounting bolt on the right side of the alternator. Could that be holding it in place? It was very tight, but with some effort, the right bolt cracked loose and, sure enough, the alternator rotated down just like in your video. What a relief! I finally was able to get the new belt over the alternator pulley. I hope others who are struggling with this step will read this and solve their problem too.
Technically there is.. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
appreciate your wonderful video, I was able to change one of my belt, front one for $18 from Autozone rather than paying someone $400 and up. Thank you, planning on changing the other belt over the weekend.
This is terrific; this video was just what I needed. I appreciate the detail, helpful commentary and good video. I'm a single over-50 working mom and have relied on many of your videos. Thank you!
Thank you for the video. So the bolt on top next to the alternator (vertical one) broke when I was loosening it. I guess it was very old. Of course I'm going to replace it (once I get the other half out), but would you say it's unsafe to drive with just the 12mm horizontal bolt in there holding the alternator?
Awesome video! Thanks so much for posting this. I was able to replace both belts on my '08 Legacy in about 30 minutes - first time ever trying to do this.
+Clay Davis Thank you. Awesome glad to hear we could give you the confidence to complete this repair successfully. Thanks for watching and taking the time to drop us a comment.
Are there any exact measurements for how tight the belt should be? I’ve heard a lot of driveway & backyard mechanic tips on it and I know I’ve seen some reports from the factory. Just wondering what your trick is
Hey just wanted to say great video. I was about to do this myself but I had completely stripped out bolt to the right of the alternator. I was gonna heat this up or use an extractor to get this out. I'd like to replace that but not sure which bolt to get. Is there any info you can shed on this?
How do you know how much you have to tighten the alternator bolt.. I changed my drive belt they same way but after 3 weeks when I open the bonnet the belt was half gone. I mean rubber part was gone I can still see the top layer of belt as nothing wrong.. But when I touched the bottom side if belt there were four lines of rubber 2 of them completely gone
Great video. There is a lot of debate however, if the crankshaft pulley on a WRX is in fact a harmonic balancer at all though, it seems to consist of two steel parts, and a rubber ring in between. The rubber ring is not a harmonic balancer, and apparently serves to only dampen the alternator and/or power-steering a bit.
Got a question my ac belt is smoking its so bad and I got to go to work tonight can I just cut if of and drive it 100 miles with out it and change it tomorrow or will mess something else up
Thanks a bunch! I just got my subaru a month ago so I don't know a lot about them yet and I was toatlly lost trying to find the tensioner so you rly saved my ass on that one!
Thank you VERY MUCH for your INFORMATIVE VIDEO that helped me avoid the expense of paying for a MECHANIC, their hourly wage has gotten RIDICULOUS especially when I'm quite handy with a wrench and I have most any tools I need except for air tools which is more of a inconvenience rather than a impossibly of doing the task.🤗😁👍. Keep up the good work, I like being SELF-SUFFICIENT.👍
Thanks for the upload. My accessory belt happened to melt/snap and there are bits of rubber on the ac compressor pulley and the harmonic pulley! I'm definitely buying a belt, but is there a good way to clean off the rubber leftover on the pulleys?
You're welcome, glad we could help. Just use a wire brush to knock off the melted belt pieces. You can use a short 22mm socket to turn the crank pulley. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment and for watching.
You're welcome, lad we could help save you some $$. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Some sites say that the a/c uses a stretch belt -- my Legacy is a 2009 2.5i non turbo I ordered Gates k050344 and a k040332 - amazon says these fit -- I'm confused Thanks, in advance
You're welcome. Glad we could help. Yes its a good thing for people to have a little knowledge or at least be familiar with some car maintenance. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Hi, I would like to change my belts on my 2010 forester. the ac belt is set up differently than in the video. How do I loosen this belt to remove it. Also in your video you say the belts should not be to loose or too tight, can you define what that tightness really should be?
Lately my belts have been squeeling on a cold start and when I turn. Also my AC just quit working all of a sudden. You think both my belts went bad, or could be something else?
hey man i have a 2007 2.5xt forester, the ac compressor is going out and i want to save up and buy a new one rather than a refurb, can i just cut the belt off for now? im pretty sure the back belt only runs the ac compressor.
Great video! Chunks are breaking off my belt cause it's so dry. Is there any specific ways to get the tension back on perfectly? Or should I just tighten the bolt back until the belt is snug?
bmwmsport11 Thank you. Technically there is.. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
Hello, I just wanna say thank you for teaching me how to fix my belt! I saved money and time! Can you do a how to do an oil change on the Subaru? I got a 07 Subaru Legacy! Thank you once again I subbed to your channel
I just bought my FIRST Subaru!. Its a 2004 forester 2.5x. I cant wait to start to really work on it. I just did my first repair, i changed the headlamp bulb.
Nice, Glad you found our channel there's a few videos on fixing things on Subaru's. Hopefully replacing the bulb went smoothly for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Good Luck with your new to you Subaru.
Yes, On the 4 cylinders you will notice it turn on or kick in especially if your going up a hill. Not as noticeable with the 6 cylinders. When its set to defrost it turns the a/c on so it should feel about the same.
I just had my AC tensioner pulley break on me on my 05' Subaru Legacy GT. Is it absolutely necessary to replace it as soon as possible or can I drive without it for a little?
Hi there. First time watching one of your videos and I must say what a wonderful job you do. You think of errors that novice car mechanics will encounter by showing which bolt to use for "holes" knowing that some will forget to keep up with it or mix there bolts.
+Darius Gill Thanks for the kind words I just try and be as thorough as I can to make sure anyone can complete the repair and have success. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a comment and for watching.
@@TheDIYGuyDOTnet This video was a perfect match for my 2008 Forester. One complication for me was that the 12 mm bolt on the alternator that held the right side of the left cover shifted when I moved the alternator up and down. I had to lower the alternator again, slide the bolt forward (toward the front of the car), and hold it in place while I raised the alternator.
@@dlxmarks Yes, This video should work for early 90's Subaru's up till 2008-2009 when they went to the stretch belt. Glad to hear it went rather easy for you and that we could help you get your belts replaced on your Subaru. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Thanks for the great video! Kept to the point, a single watch is all it took for me to get this right the first time. Thanks again! The car I worked on was a 2003 Baja
Great video brother. First time i've seen someone use pb blaster on the adjuster threads, this would have helped me out big time in that I went to adjust my AC Compressor belt in the frigid cold last night, threads were stuck, gave it a little bit of pressure and boom, cracked the adjuster. Fortunately it's an easy fix and a cheap part! My struggle though is getting the belts to the correct tension to where they won't squeak, looks like you pretty easily were able to tell the correct tension?
Good video. I would like to add to make sure you get the right belt at the parts store. It can be confusing and I only needed the alternator belt. Went back and got the right one, not that big of a deal.
Yes, very important to know the details of the car and the manufactures date as some are a split year and have a different belt and also what belt your looking to replace.
Hey I think I have a misaligned something I get a chirp at idle. Would tightening the belts a little help this at all? And how tight is too tight? (06 Subaru Impreza 2.5I RS)
You could be a little loose so the belt is slipping/ chripping. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
Can you run this car without the ac belt? Mine just broke but it’s winter. I pulled it off but the car won’t stay running. I thought the ac belt only ran the ac. Any ideas?
Yes, You are correct the A/C belt just runs the A/C and you can run the car without the A/C belt. The alternator belt is still on and tight? Sometimes when the A/C belt breaks it goes into the alternator belt throwing it off. Just double check that its on all the pulleys sometimes it stays on the top but pops off the crank pulley or idler so from the top it will look like its on but it doesn't turn. Is your alternator charging ? Maybe you were running off the battery and now it is to low to run the car. Video on checking your alternator -> th-cam.com/video/SJEtweGMNYE/w-d-xo.html or try charging/ topping the battery off and see if the car will stay running. Any lights on? Check engine or brake light?
I'm guessing your talking about getting to the nut on the adjuster wheel for the power steering belt.. You should be able to use a 3/8's ratchet and a SHORT 12mm socket and get it in there... If not you could always use a 12mm wrench. The ratchet style wrenches work well. What make an model are you doing this on?
TheDIYGuyDOTnet 1998 Forester "S". You are correct about the nut on the adjuster wheel. Ratchet w/socket was to tall. There is also a 'lip' on the adjusting bracket, so the ratcheting wrench was not able to work. I ended up taking the shroud out(4 mounting screws). I had all the room I needed then. Thanks for the video and for answering the question on this holiday. take it easy.
I got a loaner tool when I bought my belts. It took a $30 deposit, but it's a a long thin bar with a socket nub so that it's just a tad thicker than the socket alone. A bit of trouble, but I don't like taking extra things apart. OK... I had to take off the radiator brackets on top and it still required a bit a finagling to get it on the bolt. A thin socket with this would be perfect. Also, the long vertical bolt for the air conditioner tensioner was threaded backwards. "Loosening" it moved the pulley up and reduced tension. A little Chrysler déjà vu.
what if the pully for the ac belt is seized? I only have the alternator belt but it is squeeling like crazy? can i put replacement belts on and not tmuse the ac so i dont have to change the pully for the ac?
I'm not sure what pulley you are talking about.. The one on the compressor? the A/C belt tensioner pulley? Either way if the A/C is not operational I would just install / replace the alternator belt and not put and the A/C belt on. Even if you don't click the A/C button on the dash if you put the car on defrost the car will try and use the A/C. So I would just install the alternator belt and then when you have replaced the part/ pulley on the A/C then go ahead and install that belt.
What are those spinning things called that hold the belt... an idler as when i google idler it comes up with timing belt ones... One of my idlers for my ac drive belt is bad and i wish to replace it + the belts how much for these parts
What is the year/make/model of this vehicle? I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i that I'd like to replace the alternator and power steering belts. Is it as straightforward to do on my model as it is in this video?
+Butch Ignitz The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
Good job. Nice clear video. Wish I had watched this before trying to tension my belts. I wouldn't be looking for video on how to replace a tension adjustment nut if I had. Cheers, Dale
Hello, I was able to change my belt, but when I tried to tighten the belt, the bolt snapped. Luckily I was able to back the bolt out, for a replacement, but now, I'm unable to be the alternator out, because it seems the pivot bolt is stuck? Is there anything holding the pivot bolt in place?
Hello, If by pivot bolt you mean the bolt to the right of the alternator there is a nut on the end of it. Sometimes the just get stuck within the alternator. Try spraying with some PB Blaster or Kroil to help loosen it up.
+TheMountainTimeZone I'm pretty sure that bando belts are OEM belts on Toyota's. I haven't personally used them but the key is making sure that the grooves on the pulleys are clean and aligned and that the idler bearing is in good condition to give any belt a chance. Your welcome, Thanks for watching.
I just replaced the alternator/power steering belt on my 2008 Impreza after watching this video - thank you! But it seems that the a/c belt does not have the adjustor yours does. Any ideas on how to loosen that one? Thanks again, this is the first major car repair I have attempted.
+Karen Wilson If it doesn't have this style adjuster it is most likely a strech fit belt. They are a little more complicated to put on. First go to the parts store and have them look at it to ensure its a stretch fit belt. If it is you need to replace it with a strech fit as you can't use a standard v- groove belt. When you open the package on the new belt it will tell / give you picture on how to install it. You will take a pair of angled cutters and cut the old belt to remove it. Thanks for watching.
Thank you from a disabled man, who with a little neighborly assist was able to change my ac belt in my 2001 Forester. Your video gave me the confidence as well as the knowledge of how. Thank you very much! More videos please. You are articulate and to the point. Not one action you preformed was wasted. Again...Thank You! From California with love.
Just replaced the alternator/power steering belt on our 2009 Forester.
Total time from leaving the house, grabbing toolkit, replacing belt, returning toolkit, back in the house...8 freakin' minutes! And $11.00!
I kid you not. Subarus rock!
+foadspammer Great glad to hear. Ya its fairly simple once you know how to replace them. Thanks for watching and taking the time to drop us a comment.
How is this even possible
@@TheDIYGuyDOTnet poop
straight to the point.no bullshit off topic jiber jaber .great vid .good job man .
Thanks.
TheDIYGuyDOTnet hey I just did my alternator and put back the belt I even marked the the thread by scratching it to make the mark my question is even though I marked it it feels tight how do I check how much is to tight cause if I run on the highway doesn't the belt tighten even more ? How much is to tight? Or do you think we're I marked it it should be ok ? Your video is great it you actually speak of tension on belt.
I saw another video where a guy said when you push on the belt between the pulleys you should have about 1/8" to 1/4" play. I'm not a car guy so he, and therefore I, may be wrong. Hope it helps though.
Nice video but, did you move the fan plug/wires? No matter what I do, I can't get any wrench on the lower locking nut
Howdy!!
I just wanna say a massive thank you for this video!!
I just saved myself over $300 to DIY.
Plus it was easy to understand and no sponsors added or mentioned!!
Awesome! Just watched this video to replace the belts in my 2003 Subaru Baja. I’m not super mechanically inclined but this video was easy to follow and I got the job done. I got the deep sockets and PB Blaster at Walmart and saved $100 on having this done at the shop! 🎉 also learns something new and built some mechanical confidence. Thank you!!
big ups
Excellent, clear explanation. Dealer wants $200 to do this. I'll knock it out this week with some Gator Back Belts instead.
Thank you and thanks for watching. Amazing what they charge to do a fairly simple task/ repair. Hope you were able to replace the belts fairly easy.
Wonderful. I followed your CLEAR instructions to the T. Within an hour I was done and my beast was purring like the cat that got the canary. Thank a lot! I am definitely following you and keep posting so that we take care of our Subaru's .
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment and we will.
One thing you forgot to mention (messed me up) was that bolt to adjust the tension for the A/C is a left-hand tread bolt. So opposite for tightening and loosening the tension pully on that belt.
This is the best vid for this operation. I have watched entirely too many. Good job.
thanks for taking the time to do this. goes so much faster when I don't have to spend 10 mins trying to tell which is the tensioner.
+chris schmitz You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Good video,straight to the point, looked easy enough for me, with a lot of mechanical experience and tools, to do my 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback . However, when I got to the point of loosening the locking bolt for the AC belt tensioner, there was insufficient clearance between the bolt and an OEM fan motor mounted on the back side of my radiator. With my short (total length 7/8") 12 mm socket alone on the bolt, there was only 1/4"clearance between the base of the socket and the fan housing, not nearly enough to attach a 3/8"-drive ratchet wrench. The tensioning bracket is U-shaped around both sides of the bolt, so you cant get an open-end wrench on it. My 1/2" offset closed-end wrench is just a bit too big to grab it and I didn't have a 12 mm offset. Fortunately, I happened to have a length of 3/8" square steel bar (rod) lying around and was able to cut off a length (7/8") to insert it in the socket drive hole and grab with a 3/8" open-end wrench to loosen the bolt.
One of the best how-to videos I've ever seen... No bull, no fluff, and a BEAUTIFULLY detailed and demonstrative instructional video. Excellent... Really!
Great, Glad you found our video helpful. Thanks for the kind words and for watching.
Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for posting this video! $22 and 18 minutes (and that's only because I had to play/pause along with the video) and I am done. Saved me $130 over what Jiffy Lube wanted and now I know how to fix this myself. You rock!
You're welcome, Glad we could help. That's the exact reason we started this channel. Thanks for watching.
Thank you, very informative. When I heard what the stealership wanted to charge i laughed at them. Your video has given me the confidence to do this myself, thanks for saving me money!
Chad H Your welcome, Glad we could help save you some money and give you the confidence to complete this repair yourself. Thanks for watching.
dude thanks for the easy/ straight forward video. exactly what i need. for some reason a lot of other videos i find they remove coolent, and are fixing a lot more then i think i need to replace
Great vid, clear and concise. Replacing my AC belt today and feel pretty confident about it after this. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
Great video! My 80-year old dad has squealing belts on his 2000 Forester L. I'll be using this video to get the tools and instructions to replace them for him. Thanks a lot!
What a great guide! I'm planning to tackle this job next week when the belts I've ordered have arrived. It looks easy enough even for a non-mechanic like me, so I'll give it a go and I'll let you know how it went!
+UtterlyAwesomeVideos Thanks. Hopefully replacing the belts will go easy for you. Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much!! Thought the belts were the issue, here I had some work done a few days (needed a new power steering pump/steering brackets installed). The idiots at the shop completely forgot to put the adjustor bolt back on to hold the alternator in place, therefore the front belt was loose, your video saved us
You're welcome, Glad we could help before it ended up throwing the belt off and leaving you on the side of the road. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Hopefully the shop still had the adjuster bolt to put back on.
Probably the best DIY video I've seen. Very helpful. Thanks!
Great tutorial! I didn't need to change my belt, just figure out the tightening of the tension bolt. Squealing is all gone! Cheers mate!
Excellent video, thanks so much for making this! I did notice one small omission. After removing the covers and loosening the first two 12 mm bolts, my alternator refused to budge. I tried pushing on the bolt, hammering the bolt, pushing on the alternator; nothing worked. I even contemplated standing on top of the alternator! Then I noticed the little 12 mm mounting bolt on the right side of the alternator. Could that be holding it in place? It was very tight, but with some effort, the right bolt cracked loose and, sure enough, the alternator rotated down just like in your video. What a relief! I finally was able to get the new belt over the alternator pulley. I hope others who are struggling with this step will read this and solve their problem too.
Very well explained..
Do you have video on replacing..
Timing belt..and waterpump..
Thank you, fantastic video! How do you gauge how snug the belts should be?
Technically there is.. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
appreciate your wonderful video, I was able to change one of my belt, front one for $18 from Autozone rather than paying someone $400 and up. Thank you, planning on changing the other belt over the weekend.
This is terrific; this video was just what I needed. I appreciate the detail, helpful commentary and good video. I'm a single over-50 working mom and have relied on many of your videos. Thank you!
Charlotte Anderson Well thank you and thanks for watching. Glad to hear our videos are helping people.
Thank you for the video. So the bolt on top next to the alternator (vertical one) broke when I was loosening it. I guess it was very old. Of course I'm going to replace it (once I get the other half out), but would you say it's unsafe to drive with just the 12mm horizontal bolt in there holding the alternator?
Awesome video! Thanks so much for posting this. I was able to replace both belts on my '08 Legacy in about 30 minutes - first time ever trying to do this.
+Clay Davis Thank you. Awesome glad to hear we could give you the confidence to complete this repair successfully. Thanks for watching and taking the time to drop us a comment.
Great video. No nonsense and right to the point. I wish all video makers would do the same.
thanks for the video my son came home with a new 2nd hand car and the belts were faulty you video was perfect thank you
Excellent video. Steady hand, right to the point and no extra BS...
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Are there any exact measurements for how tight the belt should be? I’ve heard a lot of driveway & backyard mechanic tips on it and I know I’ve seen some reports from the factory. Just wondering what your trick is
Thanks for the video, do you have the correct replacement numbers and sizes for a Subaru legacy 2000, 2,0l drive belts.
Hey just wanted to say great video. I was about to do this myself but I had completely stripped out bolt to the right of the alternator. I was gonna heat this up or use an extractor to get this out. I'd like to replace that but not sure which bolt to get. Is there any info you can shed on this?
Great video, no corny music, got the point and easy to follow!
Thanks for the kind words, watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like. Thanks
Thanks for a quick and to the point video, I just did this /with your help/ to my Subaru.
How do you know how much you have to tighten the alternator bolt.. I changed my drive belt they same way but after 3 weeks when I open the bonnet the belt was half gone. I mean rubber part was gone I can still see the top layer of belt as nothing wrong.. But when I touched the bottom side if belt there were four lines of rubber 2 of them completely gone
This video is fantastic! Thank you. Now I can say I have changed my own belts. Subaru is nice having them right up front, of course!
Great video. There is a lot of debate however, if the crankshaft pulley on a WRX is in fact a harmonic balancer at all though, it seems to consist of two steel parts, and a rubber ring in between. The rubber ring is not a harmonic balancer, and apparently serves to only dampen the alternator and/or power-steering a bit.
Nice simple instructions. Giving the bolt sizes is a nice touch.
Thanks for taking the time for this video,short and sweet told the tale.
Got a question my ac belt is smoking its so bad and I got to go to work tonight can I just cut if of and drive it 100 miles with out it and change it tomorrow or will mess something else up
awesome video. 2 belts changed in about 15 minutes. saved me a hundred quid.
Thanks a bunch! I just got my subaru a month ago so I don't know a lot about them yet and I was toatlly lost trying to find the tensioner so you rly saved my ass on that one!
Your welcome. Glad we could help you get your belts replaced or at least adjusted. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to drop us a comment.
I’m having trouble removing my tensioner for my drive belt on my Subaru SVX. What’s a good win how to get it off?
Thank you for the video! I've used it several times now and reference it each time I replace my belts.
Thank you VERY MUCH for your INFORMATIVE VIDEO that helped me avoid the expense of paying for a MECHANIC, their hourly wage has gotten RIDICULOUS especially when I'm quite handy with a wrench and I have most any tools I need except for air tools which is more of a inconvenience rather than a impossibly of doing the task.🤗😁👍. Keep up the good work, I like being SELF-SUFFICIENT.👍
Thanks for the upload. My accessory belt happened to melt/snap and there are bits of rubber on the ac compressor pulley and the harmonic pulley!
I'm definitely buying a belt, but is there a good way to clean off the rubber leftover on the pulleys?
You're welcome, glad we could help. Just use a wire brush to knock off the melted belt pieces. You can use a short 22mm socket to turn the crank pulley. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment and for watching.
I just finished mine. Everything works fine. This is very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. Saved hundreds by making the effort. Very clear instructions.
You're welcome, lad we could help save you some $$. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Some sites say that the a/c uses a stretch belt -- my Legacy is a 2009 2.5i non turbo
I ordered Gates k050344 and a k040332 - amazon says these fit -- I'm confused
Thanks, in advance
Thank you! Replaced both belts with your easy instructions
perfect, simple, informative video. Thanks. DIY car maintenance is something everyone should be familiar with.
You're welcome. Glad we could help. Yes its a good thing for people to have a little knowledge or at least be familiar with some car maintenance. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Hi,
I would like to change my belts on my 2010 forester. the ac belt is set up differently than in the video. How do I loosen this belt to remove it. Also in your video you say the belts should not be to loose or too tight, can you define what that tightness really should be?
The 2010 Forester requires an AC "stretch" belt and custom installation tool set...
Lately my belts have been squeeling on a cold start and when I turn. Also my AC just quit working all of a sudden. You think both my belts went bad, or could be something else?
Only an air ratchet for the covers?
hey man i have a 2007 2.5xt forester, the ac compressor is going out and i want to save up and buy a new one rather than a refurb, can i just cut the belt off for now? im pretty sure the back belt only runs the ac compressor.
Jacob Borleske Yes, You are correct the back belt just does the A/C so you should be able to cut it off without a problem.
Great video! Chunks are breaking off my belt cause it's so dry. Is there any specific ways to get the tension back on perfectly? Or should I just tighten the bolt back until the belt is snug?
bmwmsport11 Thank you. Technically there is.. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
bmwmsport11 I don't know how you think it's ok to keep using that belt. If you haven't done so already it needs to be replaced immediately
AJFresh I never said I'd reuse it. Went and brought a new one and now the engine runs much quieter.
Thank you for saving me time. No more squeaks out of this 01 legacy wagon
Hello, I just wanna say thank you for teaching me how to fix my belt! I saved money and time! Can you do a how to do an oil change on the Subaru? I got a 07 Subaru Legacy! Thank you once again I subbed to your channel
IS the AC belt necessary? Mine was shredded and messed up today. I plan to replace it, but can I still go to work tomorrow, or is that risky?
thanks my friend , the job is done , both drive belts replaced and the AC pulley lubricated with WD40 and every thing now is working fine and quite :)
You're welcome,Glad we could help. You might want to try some Kroil next time works great for lubricating things. I think its better then WD-40.
I just bought my FIRST Subaru!. Its a 2004 forester 2.5x. I cant wait to start to really work on it. I just did my first repair, i changed the headlamp bulb.
Nice, Glad you found our channel there's a few videos on fixing things on Subaru's. Hopefully replacing the bulb went smoothly for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Good Luck with your new to you Subaru.
Is it common for the ac or defroster to make a slight impact on driving? In these cars? Defroster mainly.
Yes, On the 4 cylinders you will notice it turn on or kick in especially if your going up a hill. Not as noticeable with the 6 cylinders. When its set to defrost it turns the a/c on so it should feel about the same.
@@TheDIYGuyDOTnet I hate how it does that. Seems like defrost would be a simple ven't mode like face or feet
Dallas Williams It uses the a/c to pull the moisture from the air acting like a dehumidifier so it doesn't fog up the inside of the car.
I just had my AC tensioner pulley break on me on my 05' Subaru Legacy GT. Is it absolutely necessary to replace it as soon as possible or can I drive without it for a little?
Hi there. First time watching one of your videos and I must say what a wonderful job you do. You think of errors that novice car mechanics will encounter by showing which bolt to use for "holes" knowing that some will forget to keep up with it or mix there bolts.
+Darius Gill Thanks for the kind words I just try and be as thorough as I can to make sure anyone can complete the repair and have success. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a comment and for watching.
@@TheDIYGuyDOTnet This video was a perfect match for my 2008 Forester. One complication for me was that the 12 mm bolt on the alternator that held the right side of the left cover shifted when I moved the alternator up and down. I had to lower the alternator again, slide the bolt forward (toward the front of the car), and hold it in place while I raised the alternator.
@@dlxmarks Yes, This video should work for early 90's Subaru's up till 2008-2009 when they went to the stretch belt. Glad to hear it went rather easy for you and that we could help you get your belts replaced on your Subaru. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
Thanks for this!! made this job on my 08 Forester easy! I wish other vehicles I've owned were this easy!!
awesome video, made it very easy and understandable. Im actually about to change both my belts as we speak. im not so frightened anymore. Thank you
+gcorley89 Thank you. Glad we could help. Hopefully you have gotten the repair done successfully and with ease. Thanks for watching.
Clear, concise explanation. Got the job done very quickly. Thanks.
Awesome, Glad to hear it went smoothly and quickly for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Thanks for the great video! Kept to the point, a single watch is all it took for me to get this right the first time. Thanks again! The car I worked on was a 2003 Baja
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and leaving us a comment.
Great video brother. First time i've seen someone use pb blaster on the adjuster threads, this would have helped me out big time in that I went to adjust my AC Compressor belt in the frigid cold last night, threads were stuck, gave it a little bit of pressure and boom, cracked the adjuster. Fortunately it's an easy fix and a cheap part! My struggle though is getting the belts to the correct tension to where they won't squeak, looks like you pretty easily were able to tell the correct tension?
Great video. I used it to change my A/C Belt. Need to have the right tools which is mentioned in the video. Great help!
Thanks, Glad we could help get your a/c belt replaced. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
how do you know what the correct tension is? both belts just went on my 2005 Outback Sport. how do i know which model numbers i need?
This information is available in the car's manual. They're available online if you do not have yours.
Good video. I would like to add to make sure you get the right belt at the parts store. It can be confusing and I only needed the alternator belt. Went back and got the right one, not that big of a deal.
Yes, very important to know the details of the car and the manufactures date as some are a split year and have a different belt and also what belt your looking to replace.
Thanks for the video and the write-up on your site! I've been putting this off for a year and this made it look super simple. Liked and subbed
Hey I think I have a misaligned something I get a chirp at idle. Would tightening the belts a little help this at all? And how tight is too tight? (06 Subaru Impreza 2.5I RS)
You could be a little loose so the belt is slipping/ chripping. The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
Thanks so much, very informative information!
Can you run this car without the ac belt? Mine just broke but it’s winter. I pulled it off but the car won’t stay running. I thought the ac belt only ran the ac. Any ideas?
Yes, You are correct the A/C belt just runs the A/C and you can run the car without the A/C belt. The alternator belt is still on and tight? Sometimes when the A/C belt breaks it goes into the alternator belt throwing it off. Just double check that its on all the pulleys sometimes it stays on the top but pops off the crank pulley or idler so from the top it will look like its on but it doesn't turn. Is your alternator charging ? Maybe you were running off the battery and now it is to low to run the car. Video on checking your alternator -> th-cam.com/video/SJEtweGMNYE/w-d-xo.html or try charging/ topping the battery off and see if the car will stay running. Any lights on? Check engine or brake light?
Big help on my Impreza project today. My sincere thanks!
How did you get past the fan shroud? This is in the way. I can not get my rachet down there because the shroud is in the way.
I'm guessing your talking about getting to the nut on the adjuster wheel for the power steering belt.. You should be able to use a 3/8's ratchet and a SHORT 12mm socket and get it in there... If not you could always use a 12mm wrench. The ratchet style wrenches work well. What make an model are you doing this on?
TheDIYGuyDOTnet 1998 Forester "S". You are correct about the nut on the adjuster wheel. Ratchet w/socket was to tall. There is also a 'lip' on the adjusting bracket, so the ratcheting wrench was not able to work. I ended up taking the shroud out(4 mounting screws). I had all the room I needed then. Thanks for the video and for answering the question on this holiday. take it easy.
I got a loaner tool when I bought my belts. It took a $30 deposit, but it's a a long thin bar with a socket nub so that it's just a tad thicker than the socket alone. A bit of trouble, but I don't like taking extra things apart.
OK...
I had to take off the radiator brackets on top and it still required a bit a finagling to get it on the bolt. A thin socket with this would be perfect. Also, the long vertical bolt for the air conditioner tensioner was threaded backwards. "Loosening" it moved the pulley up and reduced tension. A little Chrysler déjà vu.
Thanks for saving me from another car repair bill!
God bless!
what if the pully for the ac belt is seized? I only have the alternator belt but it is squeeling like crazy? can i put replacement belts on and not tmuse the ac so i dont have to change the pully for the ac?
I'm not sure what pulley you are talking about.. The one on the compressor? the A/C belt tensioner pulley? Either way if the A/C is not operational I would just install / replace the alternator belt and not put and the A/C belt on. Even if you don't click the A/C button on the dash if you put the car on defrost the car will try and use the A/C. So I would just install the alternator belt and then when you have replaced the part/ pulley on the A/C then go ahead and install that belt.
What are those spinning things called that hold the belt... an idler as when i google idler it comes up with timing belt ones...
One of my idlers for my ac drive belt is bad and i wish to replace it + the belts how much for these parts
+Jared Tate If you google subaru belt tensioner you should find what your looking for.
What is the year/make/model of this vehicle? I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i that I'd like to replace the alternator and power steering belts. Is it as straightforward to do on my model as it is in this video?
+Damon Jacobson This one was a 2005 legacy. It will be very close you should be able to replace yours from watching this video. Good luck.
Thank you, I was able to rather easily! Excellent video.
Very helpful, super easy, and straight to the point 💯
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up thanks.
Is the ac adjuster pulley supposed to rub on the timing case? Mine is and the belt is as well
NO it is not. Check to see that the top bolts of the adjuster are tight if they are you might have a bent adjuster.
Thank you - just changed my belt on my 04 SF thanks to you
How do you determine the tense on the belts (both)? Thanks... great video btw.
+Butch Ignitz The way to check the tension is to press on the belt from the outside of the loop towards the inside (on the flat, wide side of the belt...), at a point midway between the alternator or A/C pulley (depending on which belt you are checking) and the point where the belts cross, and apply 10kg/22pounds of pressure (can use a fish scale for that.). Properly tensioned new belts should have 7-9mm of play, reused belts should have 9-11mm.(something close to that in your owners manual. The easy way is to wiggle the belt where I did and make sure you have no more then 1/2" of travel. The belts will wear in a bit and need to be tightened again later on.
+TheDIYGuyDOTnet Thanks! I was going to use a belt conditioner to stop that squeak sound it makes, but for safety reasons decided to get new ones.
awesome video, thanks for including the socket sizes, saved tons of time! straight to the point! Loved it!
Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Awesome video think you just saved me $150 didn't know with just basic tools this can be done.
Thank you so much, very informative and doesn't seem hard to do at all. I'm going to attempt to do mine. And save some cash. 👍👍
Good job. Nice clear video. Wish I had watched this before trying to tension my belts. I wouldn't be looking for video on how to replace a tension adjustment nut if I had.
Cheers, Dale
+Dale Anderson Thank you and thanks for watching. A lot of people make that mistake.
Hello, I was able to change my belt, but when I tried to tighten the belt, the bolt snapped. Luckily I was able to back the bolt out, for a replacement, but now, I'm unable to be the alternator out, because it seems the pivot bolt is stuck? Is there anything holding the pivot bolt in place?
Hello, If by pivot bolt you mean the bolt to the right of the alternator there is a nut on the end of it. Sometimes the just get stuck within the alternator. Try spraying with some PB Blaster or Kroil to help loosen it up.
Do you think the Bando brand belt is of good enough quality to use? Thank you for the video.
+TheMountainTimeZone I'm pretty sure that bando belts are OEM belts on Toyota's. I haven't personally used them but the key is making sure that the grooves on the pulleys are clean and aligned and that the idler bearing is in good condition to give any belt a chance. Your welcome, Thanks for watching.
Is it ok to be a small squeaky sound when your turning the wheel? After you install the belts?
The squeak is the belt slipping. Since its been a month the belt has stretched a bit more and you will want to tight the belt a little more.
Huge thank you from DAZ in australia
is this a similar process to replacing Drive belts on my 04' Impreza Wrx?
+Dannie Rozet Yes it should be identical to this. Thanks for watching.
+TheDIYGuyDOTnet did you ever need to drain any coolant?
Thanks man I changed my belt with the help of your video!
I just replaced the alternator/power steering belt on my 2008 Impreza after watching this video - thank you! But it seems that the a/c belt does not have the adjustor yours does. Any ideas on how to loosen that one? Thanks again, this is the first major car repair I have attempted.
+Karen Wilson If it doesn't have this style adjuster it is most likely a strech fit belt. They are a little more complicated to put on. First go to the parts store and have them look at it to ensure its a stretch fit belt. If it is you need to replace it with a strech fit as you can't use a standard v- groove belt. When you open the package on the new belt it will tell / give you picture on how to install it. You will take a pair of angled cutters and cut the old belt to remove it. Thanks for watching.
+TheDIYGuyDOTnet Thanks for the reply, you are right! They did hook me up with a stretch fit belt so I will see what I can do.
Great video! I have a 05 Forester XT. Belt squeals for 5 seconds when I turn the a/c on then it goes away. Is it a bad belt do you think?
What did you end up doing?
Thanks heaps, mate. Looks like a pretty straight forward job, so I'll give it a crack myself, rather than taking the car to a shop.