How To Replace Alternator/Water Pump Belt 05-10 2.5L Volkswagen Jetta

Difficulty: Intermediate · About 40 min · Volkswagen Jetta

Replace the alternator and water pump belt on a 2005-2010 Volkswagen Jetta with the 2.5L engine.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Loosen the lug nut covers with a pick, loosen one lug bolt with the key found by the spare tire, loosen the 17mm lug bolts with the car on the ground, raise and support it, then remove the lug nuts and wheel.

2. Remove the belts

   Remove the T25 screws along the splash shield and inner fender and take the fender off, fit a 15mm socket onto the lower tensioner, pull it back to slip the belt off the lower pulleys and release it, then do the same with the upper tensioner to free the belt from the upper pulleys.

3. Install the belts

   Following the routing diagram, feed the upper belt around the idler, alternator and A/C pulleys and back to the idler, pull back the upper tensioner to seat the belt onto the water pump pulley and release it, confirm the routing, then seat the lower belt on its pulleys with the lower tensioner, release it, and refit the inner fender and its T25 screws.

4. Reattach the wheel

   Slide the wheel on, start the lug bolts by hand, lower the car, torque the lug nuts to about 100 ft-lb in a star pattern, then tighten the lug nut covers.

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