Can anyone help?

 

I dont have pics, but perhaps I can do a written walk through. I just did this last week. By the way only get OEM belts, I installed a Dayco or something six months ago and had to replace it last week due to the fact that it was fraying at the edges and had nice flap of rubber hanging off.

First, jack up the car, use jack stands, yadda yadda etc.

Remove the lower splash shield.

Youll see a skid plate looking thing on the ac compressor, remove that with a 12mm socket.

Now you have to remove the AC compressor. There are four stud/bolt things holding it on. Also 12mm.

Once the bolts are out the AC compressor is basically held up by the belt and the AC lines. Work the AC belt off of the pulley and then secure the AC compressor out of the way. Dont let it hang by the AC lines.

Go back up to the top of the engine and remove the engine cover, it just pulls right off.

Youll see the serpentine belt and the tensioner pulley (basically the pulley at the front of the motor and right on top).

Note the routing of the belt for reinstallation.

Put a socket on the tensioner pulley (either 12 or 14mm) and push towards the firewall.

Youll see the belt loosen.

Now slip the belt off of the tensioner pulley.

You can release the tension on the pulley slowly now.

Work the serp belt off of the rest of the pullies.

Installation is basically the reverse of removal, but it can be tricky to route the belt on since its new and rigid. It helps to have a friend push on the tensioner while you route the belt. I managed to do it by myself, but I have long arms. It also took me several tries and much swearing!

Now putting the AC belt back on can be tricky due to the fact that it is a stretch belt, and will be very tight.

I slipped the belt on the crank pulley and then pulled the AC compressor up as high as I could. Then I could slip the belt on. Little note here, because the belt was so tight the compressor wouldnt slip back into position. I used my floor jack on the bottom of the compressor and very slowly pushed on it with the jack.

Then line up the AC compressor, resecure the bolts/nuts etc.

Reinstall splash shield.

DONE

 

thanks so much!

 

No problem, let me know if you have any questions, dont think I skipped anything.

 

Two more questions....
1. Does the underbody splash guard have to be removed? Can the AC belt be accessed without taking it off because that underbody splash guard is a pain the ass cause its connected to everything under there....

2. Does the compressor need to be unbolted to remove the AC belt?

 

Yes, the splash shield has to come off. It blocks the AC compressor and its bolts and the AC belt for that matter.

Yes the AC compressor has to be unbolted. Thats the only thing keeping tension on the belt. The AC belt does not have a tensioner.

 

Ok thanks. I will let you know when I get around to it....I have a feeling its going to be a disaster!

 

just wanted to note so that you don't have to run to the store halfway through- you'll need a 12mm deep socket to get the AC compressor bolts loosened, not just a normal socket

 

[quote author=xeren link=topic=163197.msg3481828#msg3481828 date=1262634600]
just wanted to note so that you don't have to run to the store halfway through- you'll need a 12mm deep socket to get the AC compressor bolts loosened, not just a normal socket
[/quote]

Oops, yeah forgot about that.

 

Thanks! I am buying the belts this weekend and am going to have a buddy give me a hand. Will let you know how it goes. I know taking the under body guard is going to be a main in the ass because all the bolts are rusted and just spin against the backer nut and there is not good way to get at them.....Never even remove the guard when I change my oil so not really sure how I am going to get the guard off. Anyone got any good ideas?

 

hmm, i didn't even realize the screws had backing bolts on the undercover, i thought they were just screwed into threads made in the plastic and metal of the car. is it possibly the screws are just stripped a little? you can get new ones from mazda pretty cheap, or just get some new ones from the hardware store if you can find the right size.

just toss those plastic retaining clips at the front corners of the undercover though- i've found them to be completely useless- they don't add anything to how well the undercover stays on, and they're a pain to get on and off.

 

Ya the screws have backing bolts....Nope the screws arent stripped....what happens is that the screw and backing bolt get so rusted when you try to get the screw out, the backing bolt just spins and its almost impossible to get to the backing bolts to hold them...I did end up snapping one and just picked up a few extra from a hardware store...I have a feeling I am going to end up busting the rest when I change the belts and either end up zip tying or getting extra screws and bolts to reattach the underbody splashguard...

 

the splash shield is useless, ive had mine off the car for 2-3 years with no problems

 

Really? You have had it off and had no problems.....? Thats interesting....I might not even put mine back on...

 

yup its been in my garage for a couple of years collecting dust

 

Thats weird. A mechanic told me that i needed to replace my serpentine belt but told me that a special tool is needed that the mazda dealer had. Looks like he was bsing me. Can someone please post the part numbers for the serpentine belt and AC belt. Thank you in advance.

 

Do you have to replace the a/c belt? or can you just change the serpentine?
2006 5-door GT.

 

technically you need a little jig to get the belts back on, it can be done without it using the method of loosening the ac compressor. and to take the serpentine belt off you have to remove the ac belt.

i still havent done mine because when i started i was kinda worried i wouldnt be able to get the ac belt back on so i decided to try it another time with a little more guidence lol

 

[quote author=d-machine link=topic=163197.msg3495077#msg3495077 date=1263352667]
the splash shield is useless, ive had mine off the car for 2-3 years with no problems
[/quote]

+1, parts of mine are on some highway, the rest in the trash

 

[quote author=LG Paul link=topic=163197.msg3465282#msg3465282 date=1261361377]I slipped the belt on the crank pulley and then pulled the AC compressor up as high as I could. Then I could slip the belt on. Little note here, because the belt was so tight the compressor wouldnt slip back into position. I used my floor jack on the bottom of the compressor and very slowly pushed on it with the jack.[/quote]

I tried to do this last night; I was able to get the AC compressor about 85% of the way back into position with my floor jack, but then it wouldn't go any further -- raising the jack up higher caused the engine to rise up in its mounts. That AC belt is ridiculously tight. After 3 hours of blood, sweat, and a lot of swearing I took the belt off, bolted the compressor back up without it and had the dealer install the belt this morning.

Swapping the serpentine belt was cake though.

 

So the serpentine is really that easy? So all i do is firstly, remove tension from the belt by using a socket to push the nut toward the firewall (inside of the car?). Then it says you may release tension from belt? Havent i already released tension from the belt? Then remove it, then put the new one back on the same way, then tighten that tensioner again?
Let me know

Edit: So i must remove AC belt to be able to remove sepentine?

 

Yes, you have to remove the AC belt in order to remove/replace the serpentine belt. It sucks.

The serpentine belt really is easy:

Using a 14mm wrench, push the tensioner pulley (the one at the top of the engine, it stares you in the face when you open the hood) towards the firewall until it stops. There is no "tightening" or "loosening" of the pulley, you're just moving it forwards and backwards (it's spring-loaded to stay towards the front of the car). Then with your free hand, slide the belt off of the pulley and slowly release the pulley back to its original position. Pull the serpentine belt off the other pulleys, route the new belt on the pulleys, then put the belt on the tensioner the same way you took the old belt off.

 

Damn, i was gonna do it, until you said you must take off ac. Damn it MAZDA, y do u have to make it so damn complicated. I understand why tho, because the ac belt is on its left, blocking us the ability to remove the serpentine? Am iright?

 

[quote author=mido link=topic=163197.msg3511873#msg3511873 date=1264309044]I understand why tho, because the ac belt is on its left, blocking us the ability to remove the serpentine? Am iright?
[/quote]

Yep, exactly.

 

Im gonna get the dealer to do it since they are paying for labor either way, but i just want to make sure. From my understanding, none of the belts need to be cut and i can ask them for the old belts?