How to Reinstall the Belt for Your Car's Thermostat

Repairing the cooling system in your vehicle yourself can save you time, money and the hassle of taking your car to a professional mechanic. With a little time and patience, you can diagnose and repair the problem, including reinstalling the belt for the car thermostat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Diagnose the thermostat problem to determine if you need to replace the entire thermostat. Assuming you do, proceed with the disassembly portion of this job and purchase the items you need for the reinstallation. This will likely be the thermostat only, unless you notice other damaged parts during the disassembly process.

2. Reinstall the belt tension and thread the upper and lower mounting bolts through the holes. Tighten to finger tight, then use 1/2-inch drive ratchet with a 17 mm socket to tighten the bolts all the way down. Start each bolt before tightening either one of them down, which ensures the holes are lined up properly.

3. Find and refer to the serpentine belt diagram, which is located under the hood on the core support, on the suspension tower or in other area. It is absolutely vital to follow the route and tightening directions on this diagram, as it is specific to your vehicle.

4. Follow the directions on the diagram, then use a 16 mm wrench placed on the tensioner nut to create tension on the belt. Do this until the belt is up on the alternator. You will need to turn the nut counterclockwise.