Toyota RAV4 2009 to 2017 serpentine belt change FULL GUIDE and belt part number

[@heisenberg4312]

Lot of respect for showing the difficulty keeping the belt on the alternator, confidant I can do this now... with my wife on the topside keeping that belt on the alternator. Cheers 👍

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah this looked easy but it took me few trys

[@johnnaughton2364]

This was perfect showed exactly what to expect... I used a woodworking spring clamp (like a big clothespin) to hold the belt on the alternator, while I fiddled down below, thanks for sharing it!

[@RBTheMechanic]

Welcome

[@Lloyd-z3q]

My RAV4 is a 2008, with a different routing, however I think the system I used might help as the main hurdle is getting the belt on after moving the tensioner. To start I cut the old belt off so I could see the area better. 1. Took the new belt and used heat gun to even out the folds. Also hung it up with a heavy steel block to weight it down. That way you are working with a belt ready to go on. 2. I jacked up the engine with a small hydraulic jack with block on wood on top. Pulled the passenger tire and access panel. Removed the front motor mount. Not difficult except there is a hidden nut on the bottomside of the mount that mounts on the engine. 3. Routed the belt so that the slack was on the tensioner pulley. 4. I was able to move the tensioner with a short 19mm socket with a long handle 3/8 drive ratchet and jambed the handle against the cylinder head so it stayed without anyone holding it. 5. Laying on the ground I used a 14mm socket on the crankshaft to move the engine. I watched the direct of movement of the belt. Using that movement I pushed on the belt in such a way that the movement of the pulley helped to bring the belt onto the pulley. Not easy, what was Toyota thinking!!!!

[@frederickneal4781]

You can hold the belt on the alternator with duct or masking tape or some kind clamp while trying to put the belt back on.

[@e.c.6707]

Is there any way to pin a Toyota belt tensioner while it is “loosened”? I’ve seen some tensioners that have a hole past a certain point that allows you to pin it after moving it out of the way.

[@RBTheMechanic]

I don’t think this has it

[@NaplesHurricane]

Screed around with thos forever, hours, trying to do from top. Was quite easy afterndeciding to take wheel off and accesss the two bottom pulleys. Started up top by using power cord sisor clamp to keep belt snug and correctly routed on the alternator pulley. Then from the bottom used a couple sping clamp to keep belt seated on main pulley. Then rout to compressor and snake up. Put one spring clamp on compressor pulley to make sure seated and some tension is there. . . Then up top removed the spring clamp from alternator for slack and slipped off alternator pulley routed belt under decompressed tensioner. At that point was able to have enough slack to feed belt almost over lip of alternator pulley . . . Long screw driver to help push tge helt over the rim was successt.

[@dt1mdlara]

Now we're talking! A more realistic video. This is really not for the faint of heart. It's not an easy task, it's like a right of passage to get one of this buggers in. Thank you for sharing and God bless.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah not complicated if u got another person with u

[@dt1mdlara]

@@RBTheMechanic I finally got mine installed and I did it from the top. Watching what you've been through, it gave me an idea to make sure the belt was seated on the alternator and water pump first. Then I slid it on the AC compressor with the help of my medium size pry bar, and it went in. Also, I found a way to lock the belt tensioner to the most slack position which really helped me move the belt in place. Thank you again for your video. God bless.

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@dt1mdlara yeah top was wasy

[@ddk80]

I was able to get it from the top without removing the wheel and plastic splash shield, but it was a pain in the rear and also got an intense left arm workout pushing the tensioner down with my short handle ratchet.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Oh yeah it is tough but job well done bro!!!!

[@gitajohnson4497]

Did mine today after putting new alternator on. Alternator EZ belt I needed to recruit a second set of hands. Ridiculous

[@eze628]

@@ddk80 that left are workout was serious huh?😆

[@johnlira3316]

What were the symptoms bf the job done

[@RBTheMechanic]

Dealing belt in morning

[@75hdfxe]

I didn’t have a helper so I used a large hose clamp attached to the wrench and part of the sway bar to hold the tensioner all the way out and I did it from the top. It was still a bear of a job. Will come up with a way to keep the belt from falling off the pulleys.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Ok cool

[@brucemoller7012]

I used a ½” drive ratchet socket to remove the bolts and the bottom left one got it stuck between the bolt and the chassis. Note to self!!! Just loosen it with a socket and choose another tool to remove it.

[@brucemoller7012]

Mine is a turbo diesel with the alternator at the bottom behind the engine. Same basic job though.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Oh ok cool thank you for ur feedback

[@alexandercohen2306]

i have a toyota rav4 2015. Millage 100k. Mechanic said i need to replace serpentine belts. Should I replace belt tensioner at the same time? i dont hear any noise at all. Should I just replace only the belt? do u know how long belt tensioner last on Rav4? ...

[@RBTheMechanic]

Do the tensnor as well prolly go out soon it’s that time for it to go there’s no life span from what u see the Camrys fail at 80k it’s similar part

[@alexandercohen2306]

@@RBTheMechanic thanks

[@melonmalone6307]

My went out at 170k

[@alexandercohen2306]

@@melonmalone6307 my car is above 185k right now and the orginial transmission fluid is still good. No shifing problem at all.

[@angelisone]

As you can see at almost at the end the belt magically fitted onto everything. You forgot to show the how to at that point. FIY: 2009 RAV4 V4, the 14mm Bolt is not in-line with the Tensioner's Pulley. Which make it a lot harder.

[@brucemoller7012]

I saw somewhere else someone said to lever it out a bit to allow the socket to fit.

[@angelisone]

@@brucemoller7012 RB The Mechanic, failed badly because he or cellphone guy forgot to record the major important step on how to install the belt. "I had a friend help here" but didn't show the process.

[@elchopostoofurious]

Good job buddy, Now I know what I not own to do

[@n7honeybadger103]

Is this the same for the V6 and the 4 cylinder?

[@RBTheMechanic]

V6 is diffrent

[@wjm3018]

The tension is tighter than ppl thing especially loosening thr tension by one had and putting the belt on the other hand

[@RBTheMechanic]

True but not so bad

[@wjm3018]

U can do it just from thr top of the hood. Start from the bottom and

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup u can

[@richardfabrizio8998]

Made it look hard lol. Good job

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah sorry but was easy

[@gustomontes5061]

Hermano bueno trabajo , Fue difícil pero no imposible Bien echo

[@RBTheMechanic]

Idk spanish

[@roblop21]

@@RBTheMechaniche MENT great amazing work it wasn’t easy but not impossible well done

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@roblop21 yup

[@LuisRodriguez-cn8we]

He said good job brother it was kinda hard but not impossible btw I'm puerto Rican and they even teach English in ours schools.

[@bbustin1747]

My daughter had Midas tell her it was 200 dollars parts and labor to replace that belt. 😂. Seems inflation has hit or common sense either way a little much I think. Like your method, Removing the wheel and plastic is the best option. might scrap your knuckles. Use some hand protection for sure.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah not so much inflation belt prolly went up $10 and labor they have crazy labor belt u can get for like $45 and $90labor is much appreciated and tax still under $200

[@eze628]

Glad to see this in real time and see yhe real screw ups. The top is always best to start from..Good job though

[@RBTheMechanic]

Thanks

[@marcelloocello1239]

Get yourself a serpentine belt tool buddy!

[@RBTheMechanic]

I got it check my other belt videos

[@Chitown388]

too hard for DIY!

[@RBTheMechanic]

No from top it’s easy

[@Chitown388]

@@RBTheMechanic Any tips on how to put the belt back from the top? I tried for hours but couldn't. Same old tensioner, same old belt. I took both off but couldn't put the belt back on. I threaded the belt through everything except for the alternator. Then from on top, crank the tensioner. I am not even close to being able to thread the belt through the alternator. It just seems to be half an inch short.

[@Chitown388]

Just found that the short answer to my question is to put the belt back from the bottom of the car. It took me minutes from the bottom. It took me hours and without success from the top.

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@Chitown388 yeah I couldn’t get it from bottom so I got help but and did it from top

[@karkule5919]

@@RBTheMechanic Not easier from top, if it is why don't you show it.