Changing Drive And Power Steering Belts

[ET ECHO]

Well I have a little time so thought I’d post some info on changing the drive and power steering belts. I see a few threads asking for this info. I recently changed them on a 2003 Echo and took some pictures.

There are 2 belts on the Echo engine. A drive belt and a power steering belt. In order to remove the power steering belt you must, first, remove the main drive belt. If changing one it may be best to change both.

First remove right front wheel. Use jack stands to support the vehicle. Do not rely on a jack to hold it up. Next remove the passenger side front bumper cover. I feel it best to remove the cover as then you can do a test drive before enclosing everything. You can, if you wish, just lower cover to give access to the drive belts. With the cover removed, check the power steering pulley and make sure that you have access to the adjusting bolt. This bolt is accessed thru an opening in the pulley. See last picture.

Here are 2 pictures of the bumper cover installed and removed.




　
This gives you access to the belts.
　

[ET ECHO]

Working from the top at the alternator loosen the adjusting bolt, 12mm, and the pivot bolt, 14mm. For the pivot bolt use the shortest socket you can find as the clearance is tight. You may also need a cheater pipe on your ratchet as the bolt may be tight. My pivot bolt was extremely tight. No need for all that torque.



With the bolts loosened you can rotate the alternator towards the engine to release the drive belt. Work the belt off the pulley and you can remove it from the bottom.

Working from the top loosen the power steering pump pivot bolt, 14mm. This bolt, also, has tight access and tight torque. Use the cheater pipe.

6

Now working from the bottom loosen the power steering adjusting bolt. With the bolt loose rotate the power steering pump towards the front to release the belt. Remove the belt.



Install the belts in reverse order. I found it best to install the main drive belt from the bottom up. Tension the belts and tighten the adjusting bolt first then the pivot bolt.

One bit of warning. When tightening the main drive belt, work from the side to pry alternator for proper tension. You can slip a pry bar behind the alternator and pry on the engine mount. If you pry from the top, you can damage the Oil Control Valve. It is just behind the alternator. You can just see the red electrical wires for the OCV connector in the alternator picture, top of picture.

Hope this helps.
　
　
　

[denman]

Hey ET that's just an excellent write-up! I wish I'd seen that before I changed mine. I did mine the hard way; from the top and have the scars on backs of my hands to prove it , ... I recommend this be posted as a sticky

[2005RS]

nice write-up.

the only thing I would add is that while you're at it, this is a good time to install a lightweight crank pulley. this is a bolt on that the seat dyno will notice.

you will need a breaker bar or cheater to get the crank nut off and a torque wrench to put it back on

[ericlp]

I also recommend this to be "stickied" mods asleep at the wheel...