Aw11 SC 86 alternator belt

[Adarewyr]

Is someone able to show me some pictures of what I have to undo to loosen the tensioner pulley to get the alternator belt off? Theres one video on YT but I can't work out what hes done

[85AW20v]

I'm fairly certain you'll need to loosen the nut in the centre of the tensioning pulley which will then allow you to adjust the tension with the bolt head behind the said pulley.

[mickeyduck]

First you loosen the nut that is in the centre of the pulley. Don't remove it, just loosen it. Unless you are also replacing the pulley, that is...
(See my Rides thread for details regards replacement pulleys if you need one).

Then you loosen the tensioner bolt that is looking at you from under the car. Once loose, you can push the tensioner pulley up with your hand so the belt goes slack.

These pics are of the supercharger / water pump belt tensioner but the mechanism is the same. Just that the tensioner bolt for the supercharger tensioner is accessed from above the engine (next to the dip-stick), while the tensioner bolt for the alternator belt is accessed from under the car.

Also, I removed the aircon from my AW as the aircon compressor just gets in the way if you need to access the oil filter or alternator. And I never use the aircon anyway (tend to take the lids off instead).

First pic you can see the nut in the centre of the pulley.
Second pic without the pulley you can see the tensioner bolt, and you can see how it passes through the pulley's mounting spindle.

The trickiest part of the whole operation is getting a suitable 14mm socket or spanner on the nut in the centre of the pulley. There's not a lot of space between it and the chassis rail. I bought a funny socket with a hex outer on the drive end (designed so you can put a ring spanner on it). I then carved it down short enough to fit in there easily. So I pop it on the nut, then put a 19mm spanner on it to crack it off. But that's just how I do it, you might have a tool for the job already...

If you are doing the alternator belt, do the supercharger belt too. And frankly it'd be wise to also replace the pulleys if you still have the OEM ones on there (see my Rides thread for details).

When tightening the tensioner bolts, just nip them up as if you were turning off a tap in the bathroom, and maybe give it a 1/2 turn after that. If the supercharger belt squeals under acceleration you'd want to tighten the tensioner bolt maybe a quarter or a half a turn at a time until the squealing goes away. Any tighter than that and you'll naff your water pump which will make it leak, and replacing that with the engine in the car, while do-able, is a PITA (done a few).

Be sure to do the nut in the centre of the pulley up nice and tight after you're done with the tensioner bolt! Otherwise the pulley might fall off and you'll throw the belt.

Enjoy that AW, Lachlan! AWesome cars eh.

[MR2GUY]

Invest in a double ring flat spanner in 14mm, one of the best tools I purchased for working on Toyota belts and pulleys
https://trademe.co.nz/1473266117

[Adarewyr]

I have it off and Toyota can't seem to find me the right belt, even with the old belt in there hands, so they want my chassis Code, and the letters that should be on th end of it. My little plate with those details has been painted over, and in removing the paint I can't read the full thing properly, anyone know roughly what those letters might look like so I can piece it together? It's been over a week since I've had my mr2 :'(

[MIKEP]

Do a Carjam www.carjam.co.nz enter your rego and chassis number will be there

[MR2GUY]

factory Supercharged as follows:
AW11-WCMQR (manual hardtop)
AW11-WCPQR (auto hardtop)
AW11-WJMQR (manual T-top)
AW11-WJPQR (Auto T-top)

[mknz]

Almost any parts store would get you another and if you request specific brands you'll get OE quality

[Adarewyr]

The OEM toyota belts don't fit my car for some unknown reason, and are significantly smaller than what my current belt was.... Got a new belt that fit but was the wrong teeth pattern, and it's split itself

Now the old belt won't fit at all, and I have no idea what to do.... Someone please help, somethings moved and now the whole belt thing is so much tighter without any room for more adjustment

[MR2GUY]

Could you get a photo of your crank pulley?

[Adarewyr]

I'll get a picture of it now, although I have a belt that fits snug. Only problem now is the pulley bolt is stripped and won't seem to take a nut.... :'(

[g-lo]

Are you in Dunedin? If so I can see if I can clean the thread for you.