🔧 Serpentine Belt - Replacement

The serpentine belt drives key accessories on your Equinox, like the alternator and A/C compressor. If it is cracked, noisy, or glazed, replacing it now can help prevent a roadside breakdown.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1-2 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Engine must be off and completely cool before starting.
• Keep fingers clear of the belt tensioner and pulleys; the tensioner is spring-loaded.
• Do not start the engine with the belt removed.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 15mm wrench
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• Socket set
• Flashlight
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Wheel chocks

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Let the engine cool fully before touching any belt-driven parts.
• Open the hood and look at the belt routing before removing anything. Take a photo first.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Locate the belt routing

• Open the hood and use a flashlight to find the belt path around the pulleys.
• Look for the belt routing sticker under the hood if it is still present.
• Take a clear photo so you can reinstall the new belt the same way.

Step 2: Release belt tension

• Find the belt tensioner on the front of the engine.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive breaker bar or 15mm wrench on the tensioner hex to rotate it and relieve belt tension.
• Keep a firm grip as the tensioner is spring-loaded.

Step 3: Remove the old belt

• While holding the tensioner released, slip the belt off one accessible pulley.
• Slowly let the tensioner return to its resting position.
• Remove the belt from all pulleys and pull it out of the engine bay.

Step 4: Inspect pulleys and tensioner

• Spin each pulley by hand and listen for roughness or wobble.
• Check the tensioner pulley for play, noise, or seized movement.
• If any pulley feels rough, replace it before installing the new belt.

Step 5: Install the new belt

• Route the new belt around all pulleys except one easy-to-reach pulley.
• Use the 1/2-inch drive breaker bar or 15mm wrench to rotate the tensioner again.
• Slip the belt fully onto the last pulley, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Make sure every rib is seated in every pulley groove.

Step 6: Verify belt alignment

• Inspect the full belt path with a flashlight.
• Confirm the belt is centered on each pulley and not twisted.
• One misaligned rib can make noise fast.

Step 7: Start and check

• Start the engine and let it idle.
• Watch the belt for a few seconds to confirm it runs smooth and true.
• Listen for squealing, chirping, or slapping noises.

---

✅ After Repair

• Recheck belt tracking after a short test drive.
• Inspect again for any squeaks or signs of rubbing.
• If the belt noise returns, inspect the tensioner and idler pulleys next.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$320 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$90 (parts only)

You Save: $145-$230 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1-2 hours.

---

🎯 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.