How to Replace the Serpentine Belt on a 2003 Toyota Camry with a 4-Cylinder Engine

The 2003 Toyota Camry with the four-cylinder engine has a serpentine belt that operates all of the engine accessories. When the engine is running, the serpentine belt operates the air conditioner compressor, the alternator, the water pump and the power steering pump. The belt travels around all of the accessory pulleys at the same time. This enables a single belt to operate each accessory at the same time. If the belt is starting to fray or crack, replace it immediately.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive metric socket set
• Serpentine belt

Instructions

1. Open the hood and find the small diagram that shows the routing instructions for the serpentine belt. This diagram is on the top left of the plastic fan cover. Refer to this diagram when routing the new belt around the accessory pulleys.

2. Locate the self-adjusting belt tensioner on the front of the engine. The tensioner is on the left side of the water pump. The tensioner has to be rotated to remove the belt from the pulleys. Use the bolt that holds the tensioner pulley to the tensioner arm to rotate the entire tensioner.

3. Position a metric socket and the breaker bar on the pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar counterclockwise to move the tensioner. This will release the tension from the belt. Slide the belt off the top of the tensioner pulley. Release the breaker bar and allow the tensioner to retract to its original stopping point. Take the breaker bar and socket off the pulley bolt.

4. Take the belt off all of the accessory pulleys. Pull the belt out of the engine and lay it next to the new belt. Make sure that the new belt is the same width and length as the old belt, allowing for stretching of the old belt from use.

5. Slide the new belt around the crankshaft pulley to start the routing process. Refer to the belt routing diagram to position the new belt around the other accessory pulleys.

6. Position the socket and the breaker bar back on the pulley bolt head. Turn the breaker bar counterclockwise to move the tensioner. Slide the new belt around the top of the tensioner pulley and release the breaker bar. As the tensioner pulley is retracting against the belt, it will bring the belt to the proper tension. Pull the breaker bar and socket off the tensioner pulley.

7. Check how the new belt is routed to make sure that it was done properly and that the belt is secure inside each pulley.

8. Crank the 2003 Toyota Camry for around 10 seconds to finish seating the belt into the pulley grooves. Turn the engine off and close the hood.

Tips & Warnings

• If the belt routing diagram for the 2003 Toyota Camry is missing, use a pen and a notepad to draw the routing directions of the old belt. Follow the diagram to install the new belt.

• Keep hands and tools away from moving engine parts.

References

• "Toyota Camry Haynes Repair Manual covering all 2002 thru 2006 models of Camry et al."; John Haynes; 2007
• 2 Car Pros: 2003 Toyota Camry Belt Routing Diagram

Resources

• 2 Car Pros: Multi Rib Belt Routing Diagrams and Timing Belt Diagrams
• Auto Zone: Automotive Repair Guides