How to Change a Serpentine Belt on a 2003 Toyota Camry

Your 2003 Toyota Camry is equipped with a serpentine belt that requires regular inspection to maintain it. Replace the serpentine belt at the first sign of damage, wear or cracks with a new belt, available at most auto parts stores or a Toyota dealership. The belt on the Camry is not hard to remove, but you will need to access the belt tensioner from the underside of the engine compartment. A few hand tools are all you will need to complete the job and save a few dollars by doing the work yourself.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Wrench set
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Socket set

1. • 1

     Park your car, turn the engine off and set the parking brake. Allow the engine to cool before changing the belt. Open the hood and locate the battery on the driver's side of the engine compartment. It is in the front corner just behind the headlight on the Camry.

   • 2

     Locate the negative battery terminal, it is marked with a "-" molded into the battery next the terminal, and loosen the retaining bolt on the battery cable end with a wrench. Remove the cable and isolate it from the battery.

   • 3

     Raise the front of the car with a jack and support it on a set of jack stands. Locate the right hand under engine cover and remove the mounting bolts with a socket and ratchet then remove the cover from the car.

   • 4

     Locate the belt tensioner, working from under the engine. Turn it counterclockwise with a socket and ratchet to remove the tension on the belt. Remove the serpentine belt from the pulleys and return the tensioner to its home position.

   • 5

     Install a new belt on all the pulleys, leaving it off the tensioner for now. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise again with your socket and ratchet and slide the belt onto the tensioner idler pulley.

   • 6

     Rotate the tensioner clockwise, allowing it to tighten the belt. Remove the socket and ratchet from the tensioner. Install the right hand engine undercover using the original hardware and tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet.

   • 7

     Support the front of the car with a jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the car to the ground and remove the jack from under the car.

   • 8

     Install the negative battery cable onto the negative battery terminal and tighten the retaining bolt with a wrench. Start the car and check the belt to be sure it is running true over the pulleys.