Lexus RX350 Serpentine Belt Replacement 2010-2015

[@vchanpe1]

i like to add a few comments: (1) The tension puller may have a small flange with a hole. If it does, insert a hex key to lock the tension pulley in place with the belt in the relaxed position. This makes removal and installation super easy because you do not have struggle against the tension pulley. (2) Make a sketch of the grooved pulleys and the smooth pulleys so you know how to re-install the belt. If you do not have this sketch, it is not obvious on how to re-install the belt. (3) I managed to compress the tension pulley with a 12 inch long socket wrench and I am 68 years old. You do not need a special tool to get leverage. I estimate 45 lbs of force on my wrench or 45 ft-lbs of torque. After I compressed the tension pulley, I inserted the L shaped hex tool to lock the tension pulley and the rest was fairly easy. (4) Loop the engine pulley or the tension pulley last. The alternator pulley is up high and there were access issues. I ended up removing a bracket to a AC hose so my hand and be inserted from above. (5) Double check and triple check that the belt is centered on all the pulleys. Compress the tension pulley to remove the L shaped hex tool and you are done.... except for a final visual inspection and turning on the engine.

[@valnaso8645]

Awesome comments here Victor, used an Allen Key to hold tensioner, perfect suggestion

[@perrytree01]

This is an old video but just wanted to say thanks Jim! Made it real easy to figure it all out. 🙂

[@asifyousuf6831]

Your car appears to have the rubber oil cooler line, which is prone to leaks. Lexus has a metal replacement line for the 2GR-FE engines.

[@overheadcam32]

Excellent job. I’ve been looking for this video. My 2011 Rex 350 has 55k miles but is almost 9 years old and I’m driving on vacation soon. Thanks.

[@jeffreyplumber1975]

Thanks Jim, been around cars a long time but those cars are mostly as old as me so it pays to do a little checking befor diving in. I do little stuff like this befor they bust so it dosent happen at a bad time . I get the best available you wont get a squek or a warning very often. Might just throw a tensioner on as well!

[@teale4ever]

Thanks!

[@waynekraemer244]

Great video!! Thanks so much. I'm replacing the alternator and figured I would do this too. thanks for taking the time to upload this!!

[@atm4jim]

You're welcome!

[@jayi836]

Nice work Jim what a cluster F Just replaced the front and rear brakes on a 2015 RX last week.

[@atm4jim]

lol, thanks. I also did mine recently including the rotors. I used Akebono pads and Bosch rotors for the RX and Brembo rotors for the GX470 from Amazon. It was relatively cheap and amazing how long the brake parts lasted comparing to the P car. Of course, very different driving style between them but still.

[@unebonnevie]

Thanks for the vid. Just one thing: Folks, use OEM parts and you won't regret. My local Lexus dealer sells the belt for $26 plus tax for the 2013 RX450h. Btw, they sell a longer bar that you can move the tensioner from above the engine, looking down. Harbor Freight sells for $20.

[@theantiqueactionfigure]

My rx 350 is the same age and mileage as yours. Time to change it. Glad I watched your video.

[@pcmhc1357]

First of all, you said that you were going to use jack stands, but I didn’t see any when you stuck pretty much your entire body in the front passenger wheel well, without a jack stand…but with only your faith in a Hydraulic jack….with seals that can fail at any given moment…terrible example, absolutely terrible that u would show people it’s okay to get inside a wheel well without a jack stand…or anything else….hope u don’t or didn’t get anyone killed, including yourself…safety first, always! As far as the procedural content replacing the belt, it was spot on…apologize for the rant, but after 30 years of active duty, watching after mom’s and dad’s kids in dangerous environments, safety was always a conscious we couldn’t ignore….good day.

[@big_g9577]

I saw a black jack stand further in from the jack beginning at 8:45. Posting because people are still watching this video in 2024..

[@SinnerSince1962]

Always the righteous police on duty. Mind your own business

[@gogeorge7]

Thank you Jim Just had dealer replace mine. $150. Was making sure they actually changed it. Could not find from top. Excellent video. They did replace mine along with lower control arms. Front end lose. 2016 RX 110K mikes original owner. Cheers.

[@mikeschmidt6843]

Hi I just changed my belt, once u have safely jacked up the vehicle and taken the little wheel arch flap off or bend back and screw to plastic inner guard. A thick screw in the hole or Allan key with a little pull anticlockwise on the 14mm wrench, 5 minutes max to r and r belt, draw a little diagram of belt route and your done, simples!

[@rcsquaredinc5484]

Man this car is way more work to do DIYs than the lexus 8 cylinders. came here after watching how to change spark plugs on a RX

[@atm4jim]

Yes, having to remove extra pieces to gain access, but other wise not too bad, just make sure you have the proper shallow tool to release the tensioner, also glad the belt should last a very long time. The old belt was probably still good.

[@rcsquaredinc5484]

@@atm4jim Cool my rx is a 2013 with almost 60K Miles/ 100K Km, so probably will need to do this soon. I'm just used to replacing the belt in less than 5 min in my GS4 lol

[@norakat]

Am I imagining things or is the new belt much longer than the original one? It sure looks bigger .. Anyway thanks, I was worried about how to disengage the tensioner but I guess you just turn it counterclockwise and that’s it. Thanks again.

[@atm4jim]

It should be the same length. I checked the footage again and I see what you mean. It's has to be that the shape is less oval on the new one from the side by side pic. Yeah, the releasing the tensioner is simple, just be sure to have a low profile tool that will fit as a standard socket drive will probably not.

[@itsnotme07]

Awesome job Jim! Will definitely help me on my 2015 RX350.

[@jake2772]

1:16 do you know that cover part number or name mine is missing. Thanks

[@condor5635]

Your diagram doesn't include the power steering pump does it? I believe the 2010 Lexus had electric steering so it didn't have a pump. Thanks for posting

[@mana9013]

Seems you should have the belt around tensioner then untension it to wrap it around #6.

[@ingvarleskovar7169]

Pay attention. In the video, roughly, where "the special tool" is inserted into the wrench, in the tensioner, you can see a small hole. There is slot behind it in the tensioner body. Release tensioner and slide a 4 or 5mm hex wrench or a rod into the hole - AND IT HOLDS TENSIONER OPEN. Also, I simply used long double box 14/16mm wrench, withoput any extra lever needed.

[@mattp733i]

My wifes 2009 Lexus RX350 has 137,000 miles and I never had to change the serpentine belt. The belt still looks good.

[@atm4jim]

Yeah the belts could last a very long time, but I wouldn't trust it as it could leave you stranded. The part (belt) is cheap and an easy DIY once the cover is removed and with the right tensioner tool.

[@mattp733i]

@@atm4jim My comment was to show the quality, durability, and reliability of Toyota vehicles and parts. Great video!

[@atm4jim]

@@mattp733i I totally agree on the reliability, it's well designed and engineered, thank you. I have a 2003 Lexus GX470 with over 150k miles, only had a couple of minor issues and a CV boot that I had to replace

[@vincekhoo870]

How I wish you could explain what this belt is for and if it breaks, what kind of damage it could do etc. I know a timing belt if it is not made of chain, and happen to break, could ruin your engine big time. Thanks for the excellent video!

[@atm4jim]

For drive belts, probably little to no damage but will leave you stranded because it drives your water pump and alternator.

[@vincekhoo870]

@@atm4jim After watching another video, the camera trained on the belt and shows it is lopped around anything that rotates: alternator, a/c unit, water pump, power steering assist, cooling fan, if it is not driven by electric motors and of course the idlers.

[@hondaguy6666]

How many miles was on the vehicle when you replaced it and how did the old belt look when you pulled it out. Great video. Thanks.

[@speed3000gt]

Thanks, helped me on a 2008 ES350!!

[@DavidReyes-fd3qz]

Good job

[@proto2580]

lug nut torque spec for this car is 76 ft lbs

[@TitoLa-mb2kp]

I have an engine oil cooler hose leak after replacing the Bando USA 7PK1550 Serpentine Belt on my 2010 rx350? Does anyone have an issue (it fits well) ?

[@atm4jim]

Not sure what you mean fits well? Did you get the right size? width and length? correct number of ribs that matches the pulleys.

[@dutycalls4991]

I need to replace the belt on my 2010 RX350, thanks for the lesson.

[@tpp4007]

Looking at the original belt, it still looks in very good shape. What did you noticed about the OEM belt when you removed it? Did it look torn or cracked?

[@atm4jim]

Yeah, probably was still good but hard to tell visually with newer belts. Replaced it due to mileage and for reliability, also wasn't expensive and easy enough to DIY.

[@tpp4007]

@@atm4jim did you replace the engine coolant pipe? There was a recall but the period was over. I had to do mine own my own, took about an hour, just removing the parts and replacing the rubber for the metal pipe. There are tons of videos on it. The car care but did a whole video about it.

[@atm4jim]

@@tpp4007 No, wasn't aware of coolant pipe issue or recall, never got the notice.

[@djfreshsmith-h3o]

WHAT WAS THE MAIN ISSUE

[@ladyphoenix9752]

Ok .. now I see why svc cost was 245 👀 Ty for vid 👍

[@jyb1212]

how hard would it have been to replace a pulley?, i have squeak coming from my 2010 and debating if I DIY or let a mechanic deal with the lack of space

[@atm4jim]

I can't say as I've never done it on this car. I have seen a video on YT on replacing an alternator which involves removing a bunch of stuff. That video might help give you a better idea. You may want to try removing the belt to confirm/isolate the issue and check for play on the pulleys.

[@Stargazer_2024.]

Well done. Nice job.

[@billng2631]

Thanks for the video, would you recommend changing the pullies as well?

[@atm4jim]

Probably not unless it's making noises and depending on mileage of your car. I would also check them for play. Thanks.

[@quyle3510]

Thank you for make this video, saved me a lot of time.

[@atm4jim]

Glad to hear, thanks

[@brandonblack2095]

how's that BANDO belt holding up compare to Toyota oem belt, my wifes RX350 needs serpentine belt too soon makes noise 110k miles

[@atm4jim]

Holding up fine, hope the noise isn't coming from worn tensioner or pulleys

[@brandonblack2095]

@@atm4jim prolly will change that too while im in there

[@SuperDagod1]

At what mileage should this be replaced

[@fastcache]

Great video! Thank you!

[@TonioJunior99]

I feel like getting a jack, a block of wood, and putting it under the motor and removing the motor mount and doing it from up top would kinda be a little easier than this

[@Heizenberg.]

Could have locked the tensioner pully with a 5 mm hex key. Easier.

[@minehkeshi9326]

Thanks for not showing the main part

[@paulhong732]

Thank u

[@teale4ever]

I Win!

[@bmak7874]

You did this on an incline. Not to smart

[@megalodonjoker8946]

👍

[@Coco-o3q8o]

Easiest drive belt there is, easier than Honda...

[@electric8668]

Dude get some jack stands before you get hurt or worse.

[@atm4jim]

Car was on jack stand and wheels were blocked from rolling down the driveway. And it wasn't the Harbor Freight jack stands that are recalled . And it's on the jack for backup and I wasn't under the car.

[@electric8668]

@@atm4jim Great

[@dexterm1285]

Dont even need to jack the car just turn wheel hard right there is enough room.

[@jeffreyplumber1975]

@@atm4jim looked safe to me. only thing is being on slope spooks me even with wheel chocks

[@mikeatv]

thanks for this video this job can be tough took me 2 plus hours routing / installing the new belt is not easy

[@fanaticveedio9756]

Thanks!