Nissan 370Z Forum - DIY: GTM Stage 1 Supercharger Serpentine Belt Change

I found these pieces of belt when I performed an oil change back on the 4th. It all fell out after removing the undertray.
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...5-img-7442.jpg

So I ordered a new belt (Bando 7PK2655) from GTM but found them for about ½ the GTM price at several online sources. I try and support the board vendors but half the price was too good to pass up to have a spare in the garage.

I have changed serpentine belts on other cars, but this was little more involved. There is certainly not a lot of space to work with and the fans on the radiator have to be maneuvered around. I could NOT find a way to get the serpentine belt off without removing the OEM belt tensioner.
Tools and parts needed:

** A helper is almost required for this job. My wife was volunteered**
Bando 7PK2655 serpentine belt (could not find this belt stocked locally, has to be ordered)
Jack and jack stands or some way to safely raise the front end
Serpentine Belt Tool (3/8”)
14mm socket (shortest you have or can find) to remove the OEM belt tensioner
14mm ratchet wrench
10mm socket to remove the undertray and the radiator overflow tank

Steps
Safely raise the front end of the car. I bought a low profile jack at Harbor Freight that easily went under the NISMO. I am at the stock height and my 10 year old Sears floor jack was a PITA because it was too high. I had a coupon and the jack was $77.99 plus tax. The jack seemed pretty solid.
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...7-img-7444.jpg

From the top, remove the radiator overflow tank by disconnecting the hoses and two 10mm bolts.
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...9-img-7446.jpg

From the bottom of the car, use the serpentine belt tool to engage the belt tensioner. At the same time, from the top, once the tensioner access holes line up, use a spare M6 bolt to lock the tensioner.
Shot from the top:
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...8-img-7445.jpg
Straight on shot for reference:
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...ttensioner.jpg

From the bottom, I used the serpentine belt tool and a 14mm socket to break loose the 14mm bolt holding the factory tensioner in place. From the top, I used a 14mm ratchet wrench to remove the 14mm bolt which allows you to totally remove the OEM belt tensioner.

Note:
The 14mm bolt holding my OEM belt tensioner was slightly rounded which had to be from the original SC install at the shop. I called around and no one had it in stock, but I ordered one to install in the future. The car has been down for a week now and I had no option because I need it this coming week.

From the top, I removed the OEM belt tensioner and from the bottom, the wife removed the serpentine belt. Personally, this took a lot of fiddling and luckily, the wife has small hands.

Take the new Bando belt and install it per the picture from GTM below. Double, triple, and quadruple check you have correctly installed the belt and it fits on the grooves on all the accessories. Then reinstall the OEM belt tensioner (there is an alignment peg on the back of the tensioner which helps), and then torque the 14mm bolt to 41lbs. Note: I have three different torque wrenches and I could get none of them to fit in the space I was working, so I had to guesstimate.
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...68905-belt.jpg

Use the serpentine belt tool to slightly engage the tensioner so you can remove the spare M6 bolt and fully release the tensioner.

Cross your fingers and start the car hoping nothing goes flying. In my case, there was no carnage :happydance:

Reinstall the radiator overflow tank, the undertray, and lower the car down. Then drink some cold beer.

Here are some shots of the belt I removed :ugh2:
http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...3-img-7451.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...0-img-7447.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...1-img-7448.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/wind-...2-img-7449.jpg

Perhaps this will help someone change their serpentine belt :tup: