Optical TDI

That belt change was super easy and the old one could have gone many, many more miles, but cheap insurance. Cleaned the throttle body while in there, but it wasn't very dirty at all. 28,xxx miles on it.

Also put on a newer coolant cap part # ending in 04. I had the original on there with part # ending in 01. The new cap doesn't have the positive detent feel when it's turned closed like the old one did. I could just barely feel it.

Barn996

The belt is so simple to do that it's worth doing before the recommended period.

JW911

My belt is making noise and I have 50K miles. I think it is time for a belt change.

Can you help me with instructions, or a link to instructions somewhere?

Chaos

Just did mine,much cracking !

CWhaley

PM me and I can send you the Service manual for that section.

Ahmet

It's unlikely that the belt's the cause of the noise, you probably have a bad idler pulley or accessory.

JW911

Hmmm. Well I have been spraying the belt with belt dressing and the noise goes away for a week or two. I have been assuming this spray would have no impact on a pulley. Thoughts?

Ahmet

Get the instructions from the guy above your post, it's really easy to take off the belt. If the belt's starting to crack, you need to do it anyway. Otherwise take the belt off and spin the accessories by hand and see if anything makes noise or has play.

Barn996

Remove your airbox(1 13mm bolt), use a 24mm socket to remove tension on belt(turn it clockwise, lift off old belt, put on new belt). Refer to owners manual for belt sequence on pulleys. It's a 15 min. job for a first timer.

Optical TDI

I used the DIY on Renntech: http://www.renntech.org/forums/tutor...-polyrib-belt/

JW911

Many thanks. Exactly what I needed. Looks extremely easy. I wish a spark plug change was this simple!

Edgy01

Another thing to consider is a close inspection of the come-along wheels (2) and the tension wheel. They are made of a hard plastic material that comes into contact with the serpentine belt. However , I have discovered that sometimes they wear--will be grooved from the belt, over time. See how serviceable they are. The come alongs are fairly easy to replace, while the tensioner one takes a fairly thin open end wrench. If your wheels are smooth across the wear surface you have no need to go further.