The car is @ the dealer getting the NAV fixed..
just got a phone call and he said my belts are cracked and in a bad shape.. and they will change it out for $160 or so..
i told them to hold off on it..
another dealer told me the same thing 6 months ago.. i told them to hold off on it..

anyone ever change the belt? the car only has 60k miles.. i looked @ the belts last time like 3 months ago, and they looked fine..
maybe i am looking @ the wrong belts?

 

I made a DIY for changing the belts. Easy Stuff, no more work than changing your oil.

https://g35driver.com/forums/engine-drivetrain-forced-induction-diy/117355-diy-power-steering-alternator-air-conditioning-belt-change.html

-sean

 

Nice. Since when you go turbo?

 

damn.. looks pretty complicated..
maybe i'll pay someone shop to do it~

 

The belt change job isn't too bad. I got mine changed out at 45K. The replacements are Goodyear Gatorback (purchased from Autozone), and they were changed out within half an hour. The job involves getting under the front end of the car, locating and loosening the tensioner nut that holds both accessory belts, removing the old belts, and installing the new ones in.

 

I have done my belts a few times, it is not hard at all.

 

Cracks are fine. If the ribs are missing, then it's time to consider replacing the belt. Again, cracks are fine.

 

Depending on the severity of the cracks, but cracks are not fine. If you see cracks in your belts that means they are dry rotting, which isn’t a good thing. If they are severely dry rotted then your belts can snap.

-sean

 

Mine were replaced at 72,000 by the dealer for 160 incl labor. They had tons of cracks on the inside surface

 

It really takes about 20 min to do and only cost about $40 to DYI. All you really do is take off the plastic guard, find 2 nuts unscrew them to loosen the pulleys...take off the belt, put the new one on and tighten it back up. I guess my DYI is pretty detailed just so if there were any questions hopefully they would be able to find it in there.

-sean

 

i'll order it tonight and try..
so all i need to order are the belts correct?
no nuts and bolts?

 

Yeah just get the belts and some tools and your good to go. Don't forget to loosen the bolts on the pulleys. Also belts are "supposed" to be changed every 60K or so. I think the $30 to $40 spent on belts, beats getting being stranded because of a broken belt.

 

Thanks guys, I need to do this too. The belt is beginning to crack a little.

I refuse to pay the dealer $40 for a part and $160 in labor.

All i needed to know is where the tensioner was.

Thanks!

 

I did this myself and if you not good with cars, it might take a little longer (like me). I will say from a noob perspective, make sure you test the tension before you take it off and try to mark where the bolt is suppose to be so when you put everything back together, you get the right tension. If its too loose, it will squeel like crazy. So after you change it, start your engine to make sure it sounds right before you put the cover back on. GL.

 

Cracks on the ribs are fine and this is even specificed in the FSM. Now if you have cracks on the outside of the belt, then yes, replace it, but I've never seen cracks on the outside of a V belt. If the ribs are cracked, but they aren't flaking off, then you have absolutely no problems. My VQ30 never had the accessory belt changed after 90K miles of driving. The ribs were cracked at 50K miles, but that was the extent of it. Today's V-style accessory belts can take a lot more abuse that the prior smooth serpentine (S) belts which did need replacing every 30 to 60K miles.

Swapping the accessory belt is cake, but I'm of the belief that if ain't broke, then don't bother fixing it.