Not having much luck recently. Both the power steering belt and the alternator/water pump fan belts are loose. Now, having had a sufties through the Ace answers I get the impression that I'm expected to remove the drivers seat, centre console and the floor pan simply to adjust the fan belt. Firstly am I right in this assumption, secondly how do you actually do this lot and thirdly If i'm right, why hasn't Toyota been bombed by irrate terrorists. Perhaps the belts last 10-12 years and THAT'S when the japanese export them.
- (#7081) Dave B, 6 Feb 03
dave to take the seat off - 4 x 14 mm bolts on seat front and rear then fiddle it off the centre rail, remove cover round gear lever and disconnect multi pin plugs (2) and relay near trans cable
remove transmission , handbrake and fuel cap cables (4wd one too if applicable) remove about 1 dozen 12mm bolts which hold down seat base/engine cover . base will now lift off and then you can access the belts
i can do it in 15 mins but im sure others can beat me
regards jim
- (#7082) J adgo, 6 Feb 03
Cheers Jim, you make it sound so simple. Guess I'm still used to sensible belts like volvos.
Ah well, worst fears confirmed. Hope it ain't peeing down this weekend ;-)
- (#7083) Dave B, 6 Feb 03
Dave
I wrote a piece for Ace Answers that explains how to do it in detail with photos. Honest after you've done it once you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!
- (#7084) Ian dunse, 7 Feb 03
Dave, If you are only doing the belts you can remove the four bolts holding the gear shift instead of disconnecting, you still have to release the hand brake cable, but I find it easier this way. I have five could be six electric connections to unplug, so don't just assume there are two and yank it out. Also if you have power curtains be sure to ease the center console up and disconnect before you remove that. If you are luckly you could strike gold and find a 100 yen coin as I did!
And yes it is easy after the first time - perhaps the hardest bit is getting the seat back in it's side runner or perhaps thats just me.
- (#7085) Clive, 7 Feb 03
clive have a look at the two tangs that fit into the seat runner and u will find one is a bit longer than the other - enter the longer one first .. the second , being shorter is supposed to go in with no bother ( i know , its not easy).... jim
- (#7086) J adgo, 7 Feb 03
Dave
Once you get the seat out its easy.
Four screws holding in the surround of the auto gearstick and wiggle it free - forward with a slight twist to free it from the fuel tank lever. Pull the carpet back. Ring of bolts around the seat pan. Disconnect two electrical terminals to the Auto gearstick on mine one is blue on is white. Long screwdriver and perhaps a hammer to release the fork type retaining clip where the gear cable goes through the floor at the front of the console. Pliers to release and pull the handbrake cable free and retaining clip free as it goes through the floor / seat pan and release the retaining nuts for the handbrake cable.
In saying all that I wonder why both belts are slack?
Check them both and pick your best option.
Tighten the alternator belt by slackening the retaining bolts through the hinge pin. There is a 12mm ( I think that the size)bolt you can see down the side of the alternator that tensions the belts. The steering pump - again try to slacken the hinge bolts, its difficult to get at. Slacken the retaining bolt on the semi-circular guide and pull into tension before re -tightening as normal.
I would be cautious about over tension in the belts!!!
I got a metallurgist to determine why my crankshaft bolt broke and his opinion was it was a combination of over torque and over tension of the belts.
- (#7087) stephen judge, 7 Feb 03
HI ALL we are new to townace and have been await 1 for yrs now but sorry to say not having much luck last sat night alternator/fan belt came lose and i let a so call car care somewhere in hapshire fix it :-( after 40 pound bill he said all done but tonight (sat9feb) it came lose again called AA and a very keen man fixed it again in 1/2 the time but 10 mile up road it came off the pully again but i did nocite that it look like the pully are out off line any got any idears on now to fix it .other than that love it smooth ride
- (#7088) andy in kent, 9 Feb 03
Andy, just see if the bottom pulley (the crankshaft one) is loose before you go any further, they have a habit of falling off
Jim
- (#7089) J Adgo, 9 Feb 03