🔧 Tucson - Serpentine Belt Replacement

The serpentine belt drives important accessories on your Tucson, including the alternator, A/C compressor, and water pump system support components. Replacing it means relieving belt tension, removing the old belt, routing the new belt correctly, and checking that it sits fully in every pulley groove.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.5-1.0 hour

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work only with the engine completely off and cool.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers, sleeves, and tools away from the belt path and pulleys.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the belt. This helps prevent accidental engine cranking.
• ⚠️ Support your Tucson securely if you raise it. Never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Take a photo of the belt routing before removal so you can compare it during installation.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm socket
• Ratchet wrench
• Serpentine belt tool (specialty)
• 14mm socket
• Breaker bar
• Flathead screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine drive belt - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Tucson on level ground and shift to Park.
• Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Open the hood and let the engine cool fully.
• Use a flashlight to inspect the current belt routing before removing it.
• Take a clear photo of the belt path around all pulleys.
• A serpentine belt tool is a long, thin handle used to move the belt tensioner in tight engine spaces.
• The tensioner is a spring-loaded pulley arm that keeps the belt tight while the engine runs.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Disconnect the Battery

• Put on safety glasses and mechanic gloves.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to loosen the negative battery terminal clamp.
• Lift the negative cable off the battery post and move it aside so it cannot spring back.
• Black cable is negative.

Step 2: Create Working Access

• Use a flashlight to look down the passenger side of the engine bay and locate the serpentine belt.
• If top access is tight, raise the front passenger side using a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Place a jack stand (rated 2-ton minimum) under the proper front support point before working near the wheel well.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to carefully release any plastic splash shield clips blocking belt access.
• Do not force plastic clips.

Step 3: Confirm Belt Routing

• Use a flashlight and compare the belt path to your photo.
• Make sure you can identify the smooth pulleys and grooved pulleys.
• The grooved side of the belt must ride on grooved pulleys. The smooth back side rides on smooth pulleys.
• Routing mistakes cause belt throw-off.

Step 4: Release Belt Tension

• Place the 14mm socket on the belt tensioner bolt.
• Attach the serpentine belt tool (specialty) or breaker bar to the socket.
• Slowly rotate the tensioner to relieve tension from the belt.
• While holding the tensioner released, slide the belt off the easiest smooth pulley by hand.
• Slowly let the tensioner return to its resting position. Do not let it snap back.
• Move slowly and protect your fingers.

Step 5: Remove the Old Belt

• Use your hands to pull the old belt out from around the pulleys.
• Use a flashlight to check that no belt pieces are stuck in any pulley grooves.
• Spin each accessible pulley by hand and listen for grinding or wobble.
• If a pulley feels rough, loose, or noisy, it should be inspected before installing the new belt.

Step 6: Compare the New Belt

• Lay the old belt and new serpentine drive belt side by side.
• Make sure the length and rib count match.
• Small length differences are normal if the old belt is stretched, but the rib count must match.
• Never install the wrong rib count.

Step 7: Route the New Belt

• Use your belt photo and route the new serpentine drive belt around the pulleys.
• Leave the easiest smooth pulley for last.
• Use a flashlight to confirm the belt ribs sit fully inside every grooved pulley.
• Do not twist the belt. The ribbed side must face the grooved pulleys.

Step 8: Seat the Belt Over the Final Pulley

• Use the 14mm socket with the serpentine belt tool (specialty) or breaker bar to rotate the tensioner again.
• Slide the belt over the final smooth pulley by hand.
• Slowly release the tensioner until it presses against the new belt.
• Use a flashlight to inspect every pulley one more time.
• One rib off can shred the belt.

Step 9: Reinstall Any Removed Shields

• Use a flathead screwdriver to reinstall any plastic splash shield clips removed earlier.
• If the vehicle was raised, remove the jack stand (rated 2-ton minimum) and lower your Tucson with the floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum).

Step 10: Reconnect the Battery

• Place the negative battery cable back onto the battery post.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to tighten the terminal clamp snugly.
• Do not overtighten the clamp. It only needs to be secure and unable to rotate by hand.

---

✅ After Repair

• Start your Tucson and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Watch the belt from a safe distance. It should run straight with no wobble, squeal, or wandering.
• Turn the A/C on and off once to confirm normal accessory operation.
• Shut the engine off and recheck belt alignment with a flashlight.
• If you hear squealing, chirping, or see the belt walking off a pulley, shut the engine off immediately and recheck routing.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $140-$260 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $115-$200 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1.0 hour.

---

🎯 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.