1G How to change Accesssory Belts?

[DubWub]

Alternator died in my 1g N/A. I replaced that, easy enough, but while I'm under there, I thought I should change the other two belts. The other two belts do not seem easy AT ALL to change... I can't figure out how to remove the tension to pop em off. I think I found one of the tensioners (the one for the AC), but I can't figure out the belt for the powersteering.

I came across thisthread and couldn't find much more than a diagram or two.

Am I just blatantly overlooking something? All help is greatly appreciated.

 

[pauleyman]

Loosen the three bolts on the power steering. Don't know how that isn't obvious.

 

[SlickPyro]

If pauleyman's post doesn't make sense I'll try to clear it up a bit. The power steering belt is tensioned by the pump itself. To loosen and tension the power steering belt there are 3 bolts. If you look at the power steering pump pulley you will see two holes in it, you have to line those holes up with the bolt heads that hold the pump onto the bracket. About 12 and 6 IIRC. Then the third bolt is on the left hand side of the pump while looking dead on at it. Just loosen all 3 bolts, no need to take them all the way out, and push the power steering pump twards the engine and it will slack the belt and you should be able to remove it. To tension the belt use a prybar and stick it behind the pump and infront of the bracket on the engine block and push twards the firewall, this will pull the pump twards you and tension the belt, tighten the 3 bolts while holding the prybar. I usually con someone into holding the prybar while I tighten the bolts. I hope that clears it up and you get the belt changed.

I can't help ya on the a/c belt cause my dsm has never had a/c since I got it so I'm not sure how it works but IIRC from flipping thru my haynes manual there is a tensioner pulley that tensions the belt. Maybe someone else can chime in on a/c belt or maybe try the search function or the haynes repair manual.

 

[DubWub]

If pauleyman's post doesn't make sense I'll try to clear it up a bit. The power steering belt is tensioned by the pump itself. To loosen and tension the power steering belt there are 3 bolts. If you look at the power steering pump pulley you will see two holes in it, you have to line those holes up with the bolt heads that hold the pump onto the bracket. About 12 and 6 IIRC. Then the third bolt is on the left hand side of the pump while looking dead on at it. Just loosen all 3 bolts, no need to take them all the way out, and push the power steering pump twards the engine and it will slack the belt and you should be able to remove it. To tension the belt use a prybar and stick it behind the pump and infront of the bracket on the engine block and push twards the firewall, this will pull the pump twards you and tension the belt, tighten the 3 bolts while holding the prybar. I usually con someone into holding the prybar while I tighten the bolts. I hope that clears it up and you get the belt changed.

I can't help ya on the a/c belt cause my dsm has never had a/c since I got it so I'm not sure how it works but IIRC from flipping thru my haynes manual there is a tensioner pulley that tensions the belt. Maybe someone else can chime in on a/c belt or maybe try the search function or the haynes repair manual.

Thank you for clarifying. I figured out how to remove the power steering pump, I just figured there would be a way to tension it without a friggin pry bar. Thats jusy dumb

And I decided since the A/C compressor has problems anyway, I'm just not going to put that belt back on until I get the compressor fixed.

Thank you so much for the clarification though. Greatly appreciate it.