How to Change a Fan Belt on a 2004 Honda Accord

The 2004 Honda Accord came with either a four-cylinder or V-6 engine. Both engines use a serpentine belt with and automatic tensioner. Honda recommends checking and replacing the serpentine belt every 30,000 miles. Check the belt with the engine off, and look for cracks, rips or shredding of the belt. Small cracks along the outside edge are not uncommon and pose no problem.

Instructions

1

Find the belt routing diagram on a placard on the radiator support or in the owner's manual. If you can't find one of these, draw a diagram for reference.

2

Locate the tensioner and place a wrench on the pulley bolt. If the engine is a four-cylinder, turn the tensioner clockwise to move it away from the belt. If it is the V-6, turn the tensioner counterclockwise.

3

Remove the belt from behind the tensioner and release the tensioner gently. Remove the belt from the car.

4

Install the new belt, starting with the crankshaft and routing it around the water pump. Follow the diagram ending at the tensioner or uppermost pulley. It is sometimes easier to place the belt under the tensioner and leaving the highest pulley for last. This way you can grab the belt at the uppermost pulley and when the tensioner is moved away from the belt you can lift the belt over the top pulley.