Automotive Help: Help with Drive Belts...

[nmcglennon]

My drive belt just went out on my 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS. This is my own car, and being in college, I am on a *tight* budget. I had 2 questions that you guys might be able to help me with:

1. How much does it cost to have the drive belt repaired? (I know the belt itself is around $15)

2. Is replacing the drive belt a complicated procedure? Could anyone do it, or do you need special equipment? (i.e. could I do it?)

Any help on this matter would be awesome... thanks!

 

[DurocShark]

Not familiar with the car, but usually add another $30-60 for labor. Depends on how much effort is involved.

You can do it yourself, or get some friends to help you... (Just make sure they haven't starred in a recent "pull the car from the snow" video clip that's been going around...)

 

[Tipe2]

Please define "drive belt"

A/C belt ?

P/S belt ?

Alternator belt ?

Timing belt ?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Tipe2
Please define "drive belt"

A/C belt ?

P/S belt ?

Alternator belt ?

Timing belt ?

Most modern cars have a one piece serpentine belt. That's what I was assuming he was talking about. It really doesn't much matter unless the belt being replaced is buried under 15 other belts or something...

 

[Tipe2]

The 1995 Eclipse does not have one serpentine belt.

 

[bernse]

Cost to repair? Well, $20-30 labor sounds fair but it is really easy. I can't speak for your car in particular, but most vehicles use a Poly-V Multirib V-belt now.. where one belt does everything. What is nice about this is you only have to loosen it in one spot and the whole belt comes off.

You should have an idler. Generally you loosen a bolt in the middle of the idler (not always) and then you'll have an adjustment bolt on the side you loosen and the whole tensioner will retract, enabling you to remove the whole belt. It is such an elementry procedure, many owners manuals have directions on how to do it.

The most important thing IMHO is not to tighten the idler down too much when reinstalling it. That will cause undue stress on the bearing in the idler and possibly the bearings on other sheaves (pulleys) let alone stress on the belt. With these new (relatively to automotive) style belts, its actually safer to run them a titch too loose than too tight.

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Tipe2
The 1995 Eclipse does not have one serpentine belt.

From the quick google I did, it actually appears they did.. but I can't say all engines/option packages will with any degree of certainty.

 

[nmcglennon]

I think it varies by model (RS, GS, GSX, GST , etc.) and year/generation of the car. The turbo and non-turbo engines are vastly different. I know that my particular model (GS) does in fact have a serpentine drive belt though... it is torn-up and hanging from my engine! :Q

Maybe I'll try and fix it myself... $15 sounds alot better than $80. Anyone happen to have any links to "how to" websites? I tried google and came up snake-eyes... (I only found car parts places, and car reviews)

 

[Black88GTA]

Maybe take a clear pic of the pulley side of the motor, and someone here could tell you how to do it. It's usually really easy. On my car, all you need is a 1/2 breaker bar and 5 minutes and the job is done. Dunno about yours, as I'm not familiar with the engine setup. I'm sure your car has a self-tensioning idler pulley, so you won't even have to worry about setting the tension.

 

[Tipe2]

Look closely at the stickers under the hood, there you will find the layout of how the belt goes on, follow it.
Once that is worked out, grab a suitable size wrench and twist the spring loaded belt tensioner until the belt will slip over it.

 

[Analog]

serpintine belts are relatively easy. the posts above are good pointers.