🔧 Accord - Serpentine Belt Replacement

Your Accord’s serpentine (drive) belt runs the alternator and A/C compressor. Replacing it restores proper charging and prevents a sudden breakdown if the belt is cracked, noisy, or slipping.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on a cool engine—hot pulleys and the radiator area can burn you.
• 🛑 Keep fingers, hair, and clothing away from pulleys at all times.
• 🛑 Support the car with jack stands before going under the fender area.
• 🛑 Do not start the engine until all tools are removed and the belt is fully seated.
• 🛑 Battery disconnect is not required for this job, but keep the key away from the car so no one cranks it.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (pair, rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• 14mm combination wrench
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• Trim clip removal tool
• Work light
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine (drive) belt - Qty: 1
• Fender liner clips - Qty: 2-6

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the passenger-front wheel lug nuts about 1/2 turn before lifting the car.
• Look for the belt routing diagram under the hood (often on the radiator support). If it’s missing, take a clear photo of the current routing before removal.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and access the belt area

• Use a floor jack to lift the front passenger side at the factory jack point.
• Place the car securely on jack stands before removing the wheel.
• Remove the passenger-front wheel using a 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Reinstalling later: wheel lug nuts Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield / fender liner access

• Remove the plastic clips with a trim clip removal tool.
• Remove any small bolts using a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive.
• Pull the liner/splash shield back just enough to clearly see the belt and tensioner.
• Tip: Put clips/bolts in a cup.

Step 3: Release belt tension

• Locate the automatic belt tensioner near the belt path.
• Fit a 14mm combination wrench on the tensioner’s hex (the “hex” is the 6-sided wrench contact).
• Rotate the tensioner to relieve tension, then slide the belt off the easiest pulley (usually the alternator pulley).
• Tip: Move slowly—spring tension is strong.

Step 4: Remove the old belt and compare

• Pull the belt out through the wheel well opening by hand.
• Lay the old and new belt side-by-side and confirm the length and rib count match.

Step 5: Route the new belt

• Route the new belt around the pulleys following the under-hood diagram.
• If your routing sticker is missing, use this typical path for your Accord’s 2.4L: crank pulley → A/C compressor → idler pulley → alternator → tensioner → back to crank.
• Make sure the belt ribs sit perfectly in the grooved pulleys (no ribs hanging off an edge).

Step 6: Reapply tension and verify seating

• Use the 14mm combination wrench to rotate the tensioner again.
• Slip the belt onto the last pulley, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Visually check every pulley: the belt should be centered and fully seated.
• Tip: Misalignment will shred a new belt fast.

Step 7: Reassemble

• Reinstall the splash shield/fender liner using the 10mm socket, ratchet 3/8-inch drive, and trim clip removal tool for the clips.
• Reinstall the wheel using the 19mm socket and breaker bar.
• Lower the car using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and watch the belt for 30–60 seconds. It should run smoothly with no wobble.
• Turn A/C on and verify no squeal.
• If you hear chirping/squealing, shut off the engine and recheck belt seating on every pulley.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $150-$280 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $25-$60 (parts only)

You Save: $125-$220 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.