Sunday, November 21, 2010

How to change a serpentine belt on a 2004 kia Optima 4cyl?

I wanted to know how would you change a serpentine belt on a 2004 Kia Optima 4cyl and what are the tools need?How to change a serpentine belt on a 2004 kia Optima 4cyl?
1. Check to see if there is a belt routing diagram sticker under the hood, if not, draw one yourself. The routing can be a major pain in the behind if you forget how the belt goes and nothing to reference it by.



2. A socket with a breaker bar, or sometimes just the breaker bar itself (on a belt tensioner with a square drive to release tension), can be used a lot of times. Sometimes there is no room to get these tools in there and you will have to use a serpentine belt tool to release the tension. It's a free loan-a-tool at Autozone. Probably easier just to get one in the first place, while you are getting the belt. It has a nice long handle for good leverage.



3. Release the tension on the belt and hold the tool with one hand, while taking the belt off with the other hand. Release the tool you are using to hold the belt tensioner(slowly, it's a strong spring).



4. Put the new belt on using the belt routing diagram. Put it on over every pulley except one. Pull the tensioner loose again and slip the belt over the last pulley and let the tool go. You are pretty much done. Just check to make sure the belt is seated in all the pulleys correctly before starting. I usually %26quot;bump%26quot; the starter a couple of times before starting it, just to help seat the belt.How to change a serpentine belt on a 2004 kia Optima 4cyl?
Generally just a breaker bar or ratchet, probably 1/2%26quot; but possibly 3/8%26quot; there is a square hole in the idler bracket, insert there and pull forward on transverse engines, the belt will loosen, pull off the idler pulley.



**** make a sketch of the routing of the belt BEFORE you start.****How to change a serpentine belt on a 2004 kia Optima 4cyl?
Use a box wrench to release belt tension by turning the idler pulley counter clockwise. There should be a decal to show proper routing of the belt. Install new belt and release the pressure on the idler pulley.