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HEEEEELP!!!

I'm desperate to loosen that damn power steering belt! Just for five minutes so I can put in the new alternator belt!

I've loosened the tension bolt, and the bolt that mounts it beneath the power steering pump, but the damn belt still isn't lose.

Please! What am I missing?

It's apparently not available online, but they can help you find a store that carries it:

http://www.seafoamsales.com/

Take it all off! Chicks dig a guy with ...

Oh, wait. Never mind.

Actually, I noticed that the old alternator belt has a slightly different part number, so perhaps that's why it broke.

So ... any advice on loosening the power steering belt?

Hmm ... I managed to loosen the tensioner bolt, and the bolt that mounts it to the power steering pump, and the belt is still much too tight to take off.

Is there some way I can make the dang belt nice and loose?

Okay, I still can't quite locate the damn thing ... where exactly is the tensioner bolt? Can I reach it without removing the engine?

Joey's mx wrote:You could clean the pulleys!! The bolt is right under the pulley..its attached to the tensioner and is bolted to a bracket!! Follow the tensioner bolt and you will see where it is located...you just have to losen it dont take it all the way off!!!! Good luck!!

Groovy, thanks!

Should I treat the pulleys before putting a new one on? Wiping them off maybe?

Also, where, exactly, is the bolt to loosen the front pulley of the power steering belt?

Okay, as some of you recall, I had a thread the other day about my alternator belt ( here ). Last night, I did a bit more fine-tuning, and the thing was running great. No squeaking at all! I went for a test drive, and enjoyed the hell out of actually being able to hear the music -- previously, the s...

Okay, well, I wasn't able to locate the lower mounting bolt, but I discovered that the squealing actually still seemed to be coming from the alternator belt. So I went back and tightened it a bit more (scraping my knuckles again in the process), sprayed in some of that belt juice, and it seems to ha...

Sorry but you should first loosen that lower mounting bolt and retighten it after the tension adjustment is made. Good job on the alternator. Also, you describe a squealing noise that could be due to low power steering fluid level. Check that reservoir level while you are in there. Ah, good call. T...

Yes the belt should be as tight as the altenator belt....The bolt is in the front!!! But you have to loosen a bolt right under the pulley, so it can move!! The bolt in the front is the tensioner!! Good luck Dang ... I have to reach under the pulley?!?! What if I just adjust the tensioner so that it...

Well it shouldnt be tight like a tiger:) but snug enough so it doesnt slip!! Good job with the altenator!! Try loosening the power steering belt and spray some of the belt lube you have and that should fix the noise!! Good luck!! Ah, the power steering belt, that's what it is? Interesting. So where...

Okay, here's an update. First of all, I checked the alternator belt, and yeah, it was way loose, so I tightened it up. Thank you Mazda for including that handy-dandy tightening lug, but damn you to hell for sticking it in the back where anyone above the age of six will have a hard time reaching it! ...

Thanks a ton for the input, guys! I'm gonna give it a shot.

(and by the way, the alternator belt is new)

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. It's a gorgeous hunk of machinery, I love driving it, and I'm amazed by how many people stare at it.

C'mon, Mazda, justify my love!