Replace a Car Fan Belt

Inspect the fan belt on your car regularly. Some fan belts can be used for thousands of miles, but if it has cracks or pieces missing, replace it immediately. Look over the fan belt each time the oil is changed on your car.

Read the owner's manual to find out what fan belt to buy for a direct replacement. You can take off the old belt and bring it to an auto parts store to find a replacement. This can only be done if the numbers on the belt are still legible.

Remove the old belt by following the diagram under the hood. There should be a diagram pointing out where the fan belt is and how to remove it. Every make and model is different, but they all work on a tensioning system. Use a wrench to loosen the tensioner bolt. This loosens the belt enough to be pulled off. Pay attention to where the belt comes out so you can replace it the same way.

Replace the new belt in the same place the old belt was taken out. Run it through the same route and pulleys where the old belt was. The tensioner bolt may need to be loosened more since new belts may be slightly shorter than old belts. They stretch with use. Tighten the bolts when the new belt is in place.

Start the car after the bolts have been tightened and all tools are removed from under the hood. If the belt squeaks, you may need to tighten it more. If the belt starts squeaking after a few days, you may need to tighten it again.