Hi Guys,

Wondering if it is hard to change a fan belt on 98 TF. I got told by a mech the belt is worn out and soon will break if I dont replace it. He quoted around $160-170, not sure if it includes labour. Is this fair price? Also is it hard to do a DIY?

TIA

$160-170 2 belts supplied and fitted is pretty fair (one belt for the power steering and the other is for the alternator / air con). From memory both belts cost about $90-100 retail (I'm sure I'll be corrected but it was over a year ago that I bought mine), one was dearer then the other. Not that hard to do IF you know what to do and get the tensions right.

Cheers,

You can get the belts yourself from Supercheap for probably $60 or $70 for the both of them, but removing the old ones and fitting the new ones is going to be a painus in the anus and I reckon I would pay somebody else to fit them, but then I hate picking up a spanner and turning it. lol

You can get the belts yourself from Supercheap for probably $60 or $70 for the both of them, but removing the old ones and fitting the new ones is going to be a painus in the anus and I reckon I would pay somebody else to fit them, but then I hate picking up a spanner and turning it. lol

Oh, noooos! Spanner? OMG Dirty hands? OMG (joke lol)

No, honestly, changing the outside two belts is easy. Just work out how tight the old belts are, look at how they loop around the various pulleys, and get the new ones the same path and tension. You need to work out how the tensioners on the pulleys work, after that it is easy. New belts can stretch a bit after a while so don't panic if the power steering belt gets noisy (screeech! on full lock), just tighten them a bit. These belts are pretty robust and should see you out the next 100,000 km at least.

While the belts are off check that the pulleys they run on, and the alternator, still turn smoothly.

Might be worth your while to check the old belts while still on the car, the ribs that run on the pulleys will show cracks across them and the edges may be frayed. Sure sign they need changing. If it looks like the one on the left its time for a belt change!


http://www.aacorvette.com/images/belt_wear_trifold_01.jpg

And another piccy.

http://www.autorepairfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/worn-belts.jpg

[QUOTE=MadMax;1316661]Oh, noooos! Spanner? OMG Dirty hands? OMG (joke lol)

It's not just spanners!! lol

I should definitely change mine. The A/C belt screeches when the compressor engages and I've already tightened it once, and the power steering cuts out if I drive through a big enough puddle. That and the growling noise when the engine is cold :confused:

But to the OP - I would suggest the price you were quoted includes labour. Cheap insurance; it's not something you want to be stuck with on the side of the road.

"Mechano-phobia". An irrational fear of spanners and dirty hands, a numbing of the brain so that the sufferer forgets which way to turn a spanner to tighten or loosen a nut or bolt. Can be cured with a number of TAFE courses. May be accompanied with an irrational trust in mechanics.