5 Steps In Replacing the Serpentine Belt on a 2006 Nissan Altima

Replacing the serpentine belt in a 2006 Nissan Altima is an integral part of proper engine maintenance. The serpentine belt is responsible for powering the water pump, the alternator and the power steering pump. If the serpentine belt goes out while driving, your car will quickly overheat, you will lose steering power, and the battery will drain. To prevent this calamity from occurring, check the belt for cracks and breaks every few weeks and replace the belt if it shows signs of serious wear.

Step 1
Locate the serpentine belt routing diagram in the engine compartment near the hood release latch. If there is no such diagram, draw one, depicting the exact route that the belt travels along, making sure to note which pulleys it goes over and which it goes under.
Step 2
Attach the socket wrench to the square peg in the center of the spring tensioner pulley. Turn the wrench counter-clockwise to remove any tension on the belt and slip the belt off of the tensioner pulley. Remove the belt completely from the engine compartment.
Step 3
Locate the spring tensioner pulley in the front portion of the engine compartment, near the center. The tensioner pulley resembles all of the other pulleys, except that the spring tensioner pulley is attached to a spring-loaded arm.
Step 4
Install the new serpentine belt according to the diagram, leaving the spring tensioner pulley for last. If the belt is installed improperly, it can cause the pulleys to rotate in the reverse direction, breaking their respective components.
Step 5
Rotate the wrench on the spring tensioner pulley counter-clockwise again and slip the belt onto the pulley. Slowly release the wrench and tension will return to the belt system.