1998 Lexus ES300 Alt Belt Removal

In 1992, Lexus redesign the ES 250 and changed its engine to a 3.0-liter, resulting in a slight name change of ES 300. The 1998 ES 300s 3.0-liter engine pumped out 200-horsepower and had the responsibility of driving the accessories power steering pump, alternator and air-conditioning compressor by way of two belts. Removing the belt that drives the alternator and air conditioning is the simpler of the two, as it is the front-most belt on the engine. It does, however, require a special tool to accurately set the belts tension.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the ES 300s hood and find the alternator, which is the belt-driven component attached to the engine near the front, passengers side of the engine compartment.

2

Loosen the alternators pivot bolt, the topmost bolt securing the alternator to the bracket, using a ratchet and socket. Loosen the alternator belt adjuster lock bolt, the bolt directly under the alternator whose head faces the passengers side of the vehicle.

3

Turn the alternator belt adjuster bolt, which is directly under the alternator and its head faces the front of the vehicle, counterclockwise using a ratchet and socket. Continue loosening the bolt until the alternator and air-conditioning belt is loose enough for you to pull off.

4

Pull the belt from the alternator pulley, air-conditioning compressor pulley and crankshaft pulley, then pull it from the engine compartment.

Installation

5

Route the new belt around the crankshaft pulley, then around the air-conditioner pulley. Route the belt around the alternator. The belt must sit within the grooved section of each pulley.

6

Turn the alternator belt adjuster bolt clockwise using a ratchet and socket, until the belt has about 3/4 of an inch of up and down movement at its center point between the air-conditioning compressor and alternator.

7

Connect a Burroughs tension gauge, or equivalent belt tension gauge, to the belts center point between the alternator and air-conditioning compressor. Test the belt tension, using the gauge. The correct belt tension for the ES 300 is between 139 and 191 pounds of resistance. Tighten or loosen the adjuster bolt as needed to tighten or loosen the belt to within specification.

8

Remove the tension gauge and tighten the alternator belt adjuster lock bolt to 13 foot-pounds and the alternator pivot bolt to 41 foot-pounds using a torque wrench and socket.