Hey fellas I did a search and came up with a few threads on this subject but I just wanted to make sure I have this right before I start wrenching on my wifes truck, a 2001 Montero Sport with a 3.0 in it. All I have to do to replace the belts: A/C, Power steering, and Alternator is Loosen the bolt in the middle of the tensioner pulley and then turn the adjustment bolt to relieve the tension on the belt and take it off. Then put the new one on tighten the adjustment bolt then retighten the bolt in the center of the pulley. Is this correct? Thanks for all the info!

Assuming your 3.0 is largely the same as my 95, be careful when turning the PS tensioner (from underneath the truck). If you turn it the wrong way, for too long, the bolt will come out of the threads on the pulley, which can then be a pain to get back together from underneath, and with the pump still in.

Tighten all the belts very tight as they will subsequently stretch.

How many miles? If it's due for the t-belt, don't bother with these as they will have to come off then.

On this one the power steering is right up on the top of the engine. Alternator belt tensioner is the one on the bottom. It has 70,000 miles on it. I figure the Timing Belt does maybe need to be replaced, but I don't have the Bucks for that right now. I know if it happens to break it is gonna cost a WHOLE LOT MORE. I plan on having it done the first of the year after Christmas. And although I completely rebuilt the 302 in my old ford I don't think i want to undertake the timing belt job myself! I am just replacing these because the guy at Goodyear when they put the tires on there pointed out to my wife that the belts were cracked and with us fixing to have to go on a trip my wife wanted them replaced. So I told her I can do that myself. Thanks for the warning about the bottom tensioner.

Here's a board dedicated to Montero Sports:
http://msport97.proboards6.com/

Now you have me second guessing myself. I'll have to check my alternator location. Is your 3.0L a 12V or 24V? I think the old Montero 3.0L 12V had it high, while my 24V and the 3.5 have the alternator low.

In California the t-belt is supposed to be good for 100k. Same belt. Go figure. If you rebuilt a 302, I'd think you'd be okay with the belt. I've never done a motor rebuild, and I did my belt without any real hitch.

Power steering and AC belts tensioner bolts are adjusted from the top. The alternator belt is adjusted from the bottom. Simply loosen the locknut at the center of the tensioner pulley then adjust. Good luck!

Joel, CA

Thanks guys I did them last night since my aunt died we will be having to make that trip its only 300 miles but my wife was kinda worried about the belts. They were pretty cracked. Good thing I did because the A/C belt was about to go! Hearing the Timing Belt is good for 100,000 is good news to me.

Thanks for the link to the Montero Sport forum.

The 302 is in my 77 f100 I was a little intimidated by doing it myself but since it is not my daily driver and I really was able to take my time and I can't count how much stuff I read before doing it and while I was doing it. Its just on the Montero Sport the engine compartment is stuffed! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> And after doing a search and people talking about needing a special tool to the harmonic balancer off, I just don't know. Maybe I just haven't looked under there enough to feel comfortable with it. I am going to replace the timing belt on the rodeo it only has the 2.2 four cylinder and there is all kinds or room to work with there and stuff is not all over the front of the engine.
But again thanks all of you for the help and reassurance that I was doing this right!

Once you take out the drive belts,radiator hoses, fan and fan schroud- you'll have plenty of room to stick a few air tools down there to speed the process. The lower fan schroud can seperate allowing you to slide it past the fan. The entire accessory bracket comes out in one peice with the alternator still attatched leaving your with nothing but the timing cover and harmonic balancer. From there it's gravytime.

Joel, CA

Joel you make it sound so easy! LOL I'll stare at it some more and read some more before I make the decision to spend 700 Bucks on letting someone else do it. By the way does Haynes have a manual for the Montero Sport, or is there some where I can get something like that? It was great to have when doing the 302. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Go to ebay and get a bootleg FSM. When I changed mine I removed the radiator too. Took only an extra few minutes and then I did not have to worry about scratching my knuckles on the fins or sticking a wrench through a tube.

There are threads here talking about making a tool to remove the pulley etc.

I personally do not think there is anything magic about the 60k mile change interval. Especially knowing the "california" rule. There are other factors involved; age in years, type of service, short trips, climate, lots of very cold starts, number of cams. Just like oil changes, nothing magic about 3k oil changes.

I waited 'till 95k miles on my truck and the belt looked really good when I took it off. I do about 15k a year, warm climate, fair amount of highway driving, SOHC. FWIW