How To Replace Serpentine Belt 00-04 Ford Focus

Difficulty: Intermediate · About 45 min · Ford Focus

Replace the serpentine belt on a 2000-2004 Ford Focus.

Steps

1. Clear the belt area

   On the passenger side, remove the single 10mm bolt and clip holding the coolant bottle and move it aside, lift the power steering reservoir out of the way, then remove the under-car dust shield's two 10mm bolts.

2. Remove the old belt

   Using a 15mm wrench on the tensioner (a length of pipe adds leverage), slacken it enough to walk the belt off the lower pulley and out from around the power steering and alternator pulleys.

3. Install the new belt

   Following the routing diagram, loop the belt over the alternator and under the engine mount, work it onto the tensioner, water pump, power steering and idler pulleys while bypassing the A/C compressor, then seat it on the crank pulley last using the wrench and pipe to hold tension, and double check every pulley before refitting the dust shield, power steering reservoir and coolant bottle.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.