How to replace a drive belt

An old or worn-out drive belt spells danger for your car engine. Replacing a drive belt is essential if it’s damaged, worn, or approaching the end of its working life.

It may look complicated, but replacing a drive belt is a manageable task for DIY mechanics with right the tools, enough time and the correct car parts. Our step-by-step guide on how to replace a drive belt will lead you through the steps.

Your car’s drive belt transfers power from the engine to several critical components, including the power steering, air conditioning compressor, alternator, cooling fan and water pump.

The drive belt is a long, supple, and strong belt that flows around the engine. Often, one side is flat, while the other is tapered or ribbed to provide grip.

Over time, the belt can wear out, causing a squeaking sound which can spell danger. Even if it’s still working fine, the drive belt in your car should be replaced around every 60,000 miles.

The drive belt in your car can wear out over time. Manufacturers will specify the vehicle age or mileage of the life of the drive belt, at which it should be replaced. It’s important to change your drive belt according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, even if it looks fine and is still functioning.

Like all moving components in the engine, when used for a long time, the belt can slip, wear, fray, or even break. Signs that you should replace your drive belt include a squeaky or squealing sound when the engine is running, an underpowered air conditioning system, or noisy power steering.

To replace a drive belt, you will need:

• Replacement drive belt (or belt installation kit)
• Vehicle jack
• Jack stands
• Spanner
• Torx socket
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Hex keys
• Screwdriver
• Wheel chocks
• Torch
• Gloves
• Car jack, screwdriver, and sockets (for some vehicles)
• Tensioner locking pin

It’s essential that you use the right drive belt for your vehicle. To make it as easy as possible to find the part you need, just type in your registration into our car parts finder, and you’ll see a range of suitable car parts for your vehicle.

This guide covers the standard steps to change the drive belt on your car. It’s suitable for cars with an automatic tensioner pulley.

• Get access to the drive belt: The first step is to gain access to the drive belt. On some cars, you’ll need to raise the car and secure it on an axle stand to safely remove the front wheels and splashguard. On others, you can replace the drive belt through the engine bay. You should find details in your manufacturer's handbook or search online to get information on how to access the drive belt.
• Understand how the drive belt is fitted: The drive belt threads around the engine in a specific way. The replacement belt must be fitted in the same way. To help you remember, you can check your car’s handbook, or take a photo on your phone.
• Remove tension from the drive belt: The drive belt is held in place by a tensioner. Before removing the belt, you need to release the tension by loosening the retaining nut or bolt (using a bolt or Torx key) and moving the tensioner far enough away from the belt.
• Move the tensioner away from the belt: You should be able to move the tensioner gently out of the way.
• Lock the tensioner using a tensioner pin: In some engines, the tensioner is secured in place with a locking pin to avoid it springing back. If yours is one, then fit the pin now. Others are held in place by tightening the tensioner retaining nut or bolt.
• Remove the drive belt: The drive belt should now slip off easily. Once the drive belt is removed, you can check to see if there’s any damage to any moving components. If you need to replace the water pump, tensioner, or any idler pulleys, now is the time! If any of these items are noisy when you spin them, replace them before fitting the belt.
• Fit the new belt: Now, slide the new belt into place. Take your time and ensure the new belt follows the same path as the old one. Refer back to your picture, or diagram to be sure.
• Apply tension: The belt needs to be held at precisely the proper tension to operate correctly. Remove the tensioner pin (if you have one) or release the tensioner. Some automatically provide the correct tension to the belt without needing to adjust it. Others require pressure to be applied while tightening the retaining nut or bolt. Now secure the tensioner in place.
• Give it a final check: Before starting the car, check that the new belt is seated in all the grooves and flowing smoothly.

The drive belt can be a relatively cheap component, but it plays a vital role in powering several critical functions. It’s essential that you use the correct part for your car’s engine and that you buy from a retailer you can trust. Low-cost parts may not be manufactured to the same quality and may not operate as effectively, which could put you at risk of breakdown.

We recommend you use our car parts finder, and you’ll see a range of suitable drive belts for your car. Not only will they fit straight onto your vehicle, but they all come with the Halfords seal of approval, giving you peace of mind that you’re investing in high quality car parts.