Is it advisable to change a serpentine belt yourself or to have a pro do it?

Every 6 years or when they are cracked across
all ribs on drive side
Can't go by mileage,it is a rubber product subject
to many conditions during it's life on the motor

Drive belts are replaced every 5 years

Your thinking of timing belts 80,000 miles

It's easy to replace a serpentine belt on an Oldsmobile Aurora.

Just release tension on the serpentine belt by using a 1/2" breaker bar on the tensioner pulley. Then, undo the belt.
Insert the new belt around the various 'smooth' and 'grooved' pulleys by matching the smooth pulleys with the back of the serpentine belt, and matching the grooved pulleys with the grooved inside of the serpentine belt in question, that you've bought from the store based on the year,make, model, and engine size.

It actually will come together more easily than worrying about a belt diagram, although a belt diagram can be helpful to understand how the belt weaves in and out of the various pulleys.

Often, there will be a sticker under the hood area where a belt diagram exists, but it's not necessary to have one to perform the service yourself.

There is tension held on belt by a pulley. You need to release tension and slip belt of nearest pulley. Use a socket and ratchet on the tension pulley to release tension. Make sure there is a diagram of belt routing before you take belt off. Make one yourself if there is none under the hood

If you have the new belt already, and can still drive the car.

Take it to ANY auto garage, and generally for around $20, they'll be more then happy to put it on for you.

The $20 depends on how involved the belt is (how large, and how it winds around the pulleys, and the number of plleys itself.

If you don't already have the wrenches to do the change yourself, the tools wil cost more the the garage will charge.

Hope this helps.


Terry

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Rotate the auto tensioner clockwise to release tension, then remove the drive belt.
   

To install:

1. Install drive belt (A). Route the belt over the components in the following order: Crankshaft pulley → A/C pulley → idler pulley → generator pulley → water pump pulley → P/S pump pulley → tensioner pulley.
   
2. Rotate auto tensioner arm in the counter-clockwise moving auto tensioner pulley bolt with wrench.
   
3. After putting belt on auto tensioner pulley, release the auto tensioner pulley slowly.
   Accessory serpentine belt routing—3.5L engine
   Accessory serpentine belt (A) routing—3.8L engine
   

The reason the service writers always recommend that the water pump be changed along with the timing belt and cam and crank seals, is that they are all located together, and it takes a long time (which you pay for) to take everything off to get to the area, so you may as well replace the other things which will go out soon with that high of a mileage anyway. Altogether, it runs between $500-$700, but it should last you another 100,000 miles. Your serpentine belt should cost about $130 parts and labor. If you are in doubt or the dealership has a bad reputation, have it towed somewhere else. Any time you have doubts, cal the BBB in your area and ask questions.

Depending on where you purchase the serpentine belt, and whether it's a budget or lifetime version, prices range from $18 to $33.

You can replace this belt yourself.

The belt goes around, and under various pulleys on your engine. There is ONE pulley that puts tension on this belt. There is a bracket, or 'arm', that this tensioner pulley is attached to. One simply takes a 1/2 inch breaker bar, and inserts it into a 1/2 inch square hole in that bracket.
You then pull the bracket over to one side with the breaker bar, (The direction will be pulling the tensioner pulley away from the serpentine belt), and slip the serpentine belt off of the pulleys.
The belt diagram of how the belt is placed around the pulleys, should be on the fan shroud support, or under the hood.

replacing this belt is just insurance that it won't break on you later, depending on how many miles you had driven it so far...it's advise to change the TENSIONER also, this keeps the belt correctly adjusted, check also the IDLER pulleys for bearing type noise and repl as needed...........The other BELT you should maintain is the TIMING BELT for the engine, service it around every 60K and also when doing that repl the waterpump and nec. pulleys.....These Escorts are generally low maint vehicle, and affordable to run....hope this helps you...GL

the tentioner is above the alternator