So I started my car last night and my belt was screeching! And then I started driving the street and my car battery light popped as well as the brake light! Same thing happen when my belt popped off last time....but anyways I looked under my hood and my car was missin the 36inch bypass belt...it had about 5 or 6k miles on it.....wats the best thing to do? I'm not sure if I can do if myself or pay extra money for a mechanic shops down the street...car still turns on for some reason

 

It's one of the easiest jobs on the 4th gen. When you say by-pass, do you mean you by passed the AC compressor?

in any case, get the correct length belt and loosen the pulley nut, then the adjuster nut/pulley, and put a belt on.

Youtube is your friend and as always, so is this site's search function.

 

Your car is still able to start because of the battery. But that will will eventually end because the battery is not being re-charged and will soon be discharged.

A 36 inch belt is bypassing the a/c compressor, but that is no reason for it to fail so soon. Maybe the crankshaft pulley is coming apart and the belt is not in alignment or maybe whoever put it on put too much tension on it or maybe it's just one of those things where the part had a short life.

 

Belt was screeching because it was slipping. If it has been screeching for many days, then may be it was loose. Otherwise, a component may just fail and increase load on the belt. When you install the new belt, spin the alternator a few revolution to make sure it is not stuck or frozen.

 

Yes thanks guys! Thanks a lot.....I jus got the belt replaced, took it to my friends shop and he did it in 5 min and charged me 25 bucks and it's runnin how it was before...but this is def a job I need to learn how to do!! Only if I had the tools and good knowledge about mechanic work , I tried doin it myself and jus made myself look like a complete idiot lol.. Love this car though.....thanks again guys! Lovin the org

 

25.00?? damn, he aint no friend.

 

really? You think the friends shop should eat the cost of the part, the electric bill, liability insurance to operate, cost of the tools, rent and food on his family's table?

I'd let my friends shop put new belts on any of my cars for 25 bucks, and buy him a beer too!

 

my buddy would do it for a six pack, just sayin. sheesh

 

It could be that one of your pulleys are breaking (coming apart) or not in alignment. My crankshaft pulley was coming off it looked like, caused belts to screech and come off. $150 problem