🔧 Kona - Serpentine Belt Replacement

The serpentine belt (also called the drive belt) spins your alternator and other accessories. If it’s cracked, squealing, or glazed, replacing it prevents charging issues and breakdowns.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on a cool engine; belts and pulleys can burn you.
• 🛑 Keep fingers/tools away from pulleys; they can pinch hard.
• 🛑 Support your Kona with jack stands; never rely on a jack alone.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required, but keep the key away so nobody starts it.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 17mm socket
• 10mm socket
• Trim clip remover
• Flashlight
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1
• Lower splash shield push clips - Qty: 2-6

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Take a quick photo or sketch of the belt routing before removal. Photos save big headaches.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the right-front wheel lug nuts

• Use a 21mm socket with a 1/2" drive breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts about 1/2 turn (do not remove yet).

Step 2: Raise and support your Kona

• Use the floor jack to lift the right-front corner at the proper jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands and gently shake the vehicle to confirm it’s stable.

Step 3: Remove the right-front wheel

• Remove the lug nuts using the 21mm socket and take the wheel off.
• During reassembly: Torque to 90-110 Nm (66-81 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Remove the lower splash shield / access panel

• Use a trim clip remover to pop out plastic push clips (a clip tool is a small pry tool made for plastic fasteners).
• Remove any small bolts using a 10mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Move the shield aside to expose the belt area through the wheel well.

Step 5: Relieve belt tension

• Locate the belt tensioner (spring-loaded arm with a pulley).
• Place a 17mm socket on the tensioner’s hex and use a 3/8" drive ratchet to rotate the tensioner to release tension.
• Hold the tensioner rotated and slide the belt off the easiest-to-reach pulley (usually an upper smooth/idler pulley).
• Slowly let the tensioner return. Don’t let it snap back.

Step 6: Remove the old belt and compare lengths

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

Step 7: Route the new belt

• Route the new belt around the pulleys following your photo/diagram.
• Make sure the belt ribs sit fully in the ribbed pulley grooves (if it’s off by one groove, it can shred quickly).
• Leave the easiest pulley for last so you can slip it on while the tensioner is released.

Step 8: Apply tension and seat the belt

• Rotate the tensioner again using the 17mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Slip the belt fully onto the last pulley, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Use a flashlight to verify the belt is centered on every pulley.

Step 9: Reinstall splash shield and wheel

• Reinstall the shield using the 10mm socket and trim clip remover (replace any broken clips).
• Reinstall the wheel and snug lug nuts using the 21mm socket.
• Lower the vehicle using the floor jack, then final tighten: Torque to 90-110 Nm (66-81 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds while you listen for squeal.
• With the engine off, re-check belt seating on every pulley with a flashlight.
• If you hear chirping/squealing, shut it off and re-check routing and rib alignment.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$350 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $25-$70 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$300 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-2.0 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.