Just finished replacing my serpentine belt and Thermostat and housing. Not too bad. Belt had some small cracks, and thermostat housing was leaking from the center plastic molding. All works well! Topped off fluid, and ran and drove for sometime. Glad that's off the list of things to do!

 

I have an S-Type with a V-6 and was going to change my serpentine belt but after looking at how impossibly crowded it is in there I decided I wasn't in the mood.

Does anyone with the V-6 know if it's really as bad as it looks? Any tricks?

Thanks in advance!

"EZ"
2003 S-Type
V6 5sp manual
18" chrome rims

 

Remove the intake air box and snorkel. One M8 by the fender, a handful of plastic fasteners in the air-deflector and snorkel, and a hose-clamp at the throttle-body. And check/replace air filter while you have the box off; much easier and less chance of breakage or leaving an air-gap that way. You'll have all the room you need, then. Don't forget to plug the MAF back in after you put it all back together (that'd be the connector in the hose near the filter-box that you tuck back out of the way behind a hose or pipe after you disconnect it........

 

Before you replace your belt, make sure you draw a diagram of the layout. How it sits on each pullet etc...use a 3/4 rachet with a pipe attached is best for leverage. My easy win was to snake the belt from the tensioner pulley, and save the bottom drive for last. Once the tensioner was pulled counter clockwise...I pushed it right in...went in easily!

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the insight. I knew it couldn't be as bad as it looked. Now those spark plugs are another matter.............

 

The belt path is in the Vehicle Specs - see FAQ