🔧 Kicks - Serpentine Belt Replacement

This repair replaces the accessory drive belt, often called the serpentine belt. On your Kicks, this belt drives engine accessories such as the alternator and A/C compressor, so a worn, cracked, squealing, or glazed belt should be replaced before it fails.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work only with the engine completely off and cool.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers, sleeves, hair, and tools away from the belt path.
• ⚠️ Do not start the engine while the belt is removed.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent accidental cranking.
• ⚠️ If raising the front of your Kicks, support it with jack stands. Never rely on a jack alone.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm wrench
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet wrench
• 14mm box-end wrench
• 14mm socket
• Long-handle ratchet wrench
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Flashlight
• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Serpentine belt - Qty: 1
• Fender liner push clips - Qty: As needed

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Kicks on level ground and shift to Park.
• Set the parking brake fully.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Let the engine cool for at least 30 minutes.
• Open the hood and locate the belt routing sticker. If the sticker is missing, take a clear photo of the old belt path before removing it.
• A serpentine belt tensioner is a spring-loaded pulley arm that keeps the belt tight automatically.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Disconnect the Battery

• Put on safety glasses and mechanic gloves.
• Use a 10mm 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: Raise the Front Passenger Side

• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front passenger side of your Kicks at the approved front jacking point.
• Place a jack stand rated 2-ton minimum under the approved support point.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stand.
• Keep the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum lightly touching the jacking point as backup.

Step 3: Remove the Lower Splash Shield or Fender Liner Access Panel

• Use a trim clip removal tool to remove plastic push clips from the passenger-side lower splash shield or inner fender access area.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to remove any 10mm fasteners holding the shield.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver only if needed to gently release stubborn clips.
• Move the shield aside to expose the crank pulley and belt area.
• A crank pulley is the large lower pulley connected to the engine crankshaft.

Step 4: Inspect and Confirm the Belt Routing

• Use a flashlight to look at how the belt wraps around each pulley.
• Compare the belt path to the under-hood routing label.
• If no label is visible, use your phone photo from the preparation step as your guide.
• Routing must match exactly.

Step 5: Release Belt Tension

• Place a 14mm box-end wrench or 14mm socket with a long-handle ratchet wrench on the belt tensioner hex.
• Rotate the tensioner slowly to relieve belt tension.
• While holding the tensioner released, slide the belt off the easiest smooth pulley first.
• Slowly let the tensioner return to its resting position. Do not let it snap back.
• The tensioner is spring-loaded, so it will push back against your wrench.

Step 6: Remove the Old Belt

• Use your hands to slip the old belt off the remaining pulleys.
• Use a flashlight to check each pulley groove for rubber chunks, dirt, or damage.
• Spin the accessible smooth pulleys by hand. They should turn smoothly without grinding or wobble.
• If any pulley is noisy, loose, or rough, replace the failed pulley before installing the new belt.

Step 7: Install the New Belt

• Route the new serpentine belt around the pulleys following the belt routing label or your photo.
• Seat the belt ribs fully into the grooved pulleys.
• Leave one easy-to-reach smooth pulley for last.
• Use the 14mm box-end wrench or 14mm socket with long-handle ratchet wrench to rotate the tensioner again.
• Slide the belt over the final pulley, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Ribs must sit in grooves.

Step 8: Verify Belt Alignment

• Use a flashlight to inspect every pulley.
• Make sure the belt is centered and not hanging off any pulley edge.
• Use your hands to gently feel that the belt is seated in the grooves, but keep the battery disconnected and engine off.
• If the belt is one rib off, release tension again with the 14mm box-end wrench or 14mm socket and correct it before starting the engine.

Step 9: Reinstall the Splash Shield or Fender Liner

• Reposition the splash shield or inner fender panel.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to reinstall any 10mm fasteners.
• Use your hands and a trim clip removal tool to reinstall the plastic push clips.
• Tighten small splash shield bolts snug only. Do not overtighten plastic retainers.

Step 10: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stand.
• Remove the jack stand rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Kicks fully to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks after the vehicle is safely on the ground.

Step 11: Reconnect the Battery

• Place the negative battery cable back onto the battery post.
• Use a 10mm wrench to tighten the terminal clamp snugly.
• Do not overtighten the battery terminal.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and let it idle.
• Watch the belt for 30-60 seconds. It should run straight and quiet.
• Turn the A/C on and listen for squealing, chirping, or slapping noises.
• Shut the engine off and recheck belt seating with a flashlight.
• If the battery was disconnected, reset the clock and any saved audio settings if needed.
• If the belt squeals after replacement, inspect the tensioner and pulleys for wear or misalignment.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $130-$260 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $105-$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 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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