Fix It

Knowing when to replace the drive belt on your car can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs. There is no "quick fix" should your drive belt break from too much wear and tear. Regularly check the belt to avoid getting stranded -- and monster repair bills. Serpentine belts, standard V-belts and "cogged" V-belts are the three main types used.

Serpentine Belt

Controlled by a belt tensioner or an idle pulley, the serpentine belt is also known as the "poly-V-belt." According to an article on the Engine Blox website, this belt was named from its flexible nature, allowing it to "snake" around pulleys. The belt is wide and can withstand higher tension than older belts, reducing stress on the engine and boosting gas mileage. A serpentine belt needs to be replaced every five years or 50,000 miles, according to AA1Car.com. Most new cars include a diagram under the hood that explains how to replace it.

Standard V-belt

The V-belt is a half inch wide. Narrower than the serpentine belt, it is typically found on older automobiles. Its tapered sides fit between pulleys or gears and it works best with light loads, since the flat base does not rotate gears precisely. A standard V-belt should be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles, and replacement costs roughly half the price of a serpentine belt, according to International Auto Repair.

Cogged V-belt

The cogged belt is similar to the standard V-belt, except that it has grooved base. These grooves allow a firm grip on gears and engine accessories, making the belt ideal for high-load applications. As does the standard V belt, the cogged belt should be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles.

The 1999 Chrysler 300M has two different belts that travel around the accessory pulleys. The first belt is a drive belt that controls the air conditioner compressor. The second belt is a serpentine belt that controls the remaining accessories such as the alternator, power steering pump and the water pump. Both belts are routed around each designated accessory pulley in a method that allows the accessories to function from the same belt. Both the drive belt and the serpentine belt are tensioned by an adjustable idler pulley. If the belts develop any visible fraying, change them out immediately.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and prop it in place to prevent it from falling.

2

Locate the serpentine belt adjustable idler pulley that tensions the serpentine belt on the front of the engine. This adjustable idler pulley will be closest to the top side of the engine. Position a metric socket onto the ratchet and loosen the bolt in the center of the serpentine belt idler pulley.

3

Remove the socket from the ratchet and a both of the 8-inch extensions to the ratchet. Put the socket back onto the bottom of the extension. Move to the underside of the engine and locate the adjustment bolt on the bottom of the serpentine belt idler pulley. Position the ratchet, extension and socket onto the adjustment bolt. Turn the adjustment bolt a couple of turns to loosen the serpentine belt. Remove the belt from all of the accessory pulleys and out of the engine well.

4

Remove the air conditioner compressor belt from the bottom side of the engine also. Locate the adjustable idler pulley for the air conditioner compressor belt on the lower front passenger side of the engine. Loosen the bolt in the center of the adjustable idler pulley with the ratchet and a socket. Remove the socket and position the extensions back onto the ratchet and push the socket back onto the bottom extension.

5

Turn the adjustment bolt on the bottom of the adjustable idler pulley counter clockwise a couple of times with the ratchet, extensions and socket. Pull the belt off of the air conditioner compressor pulley and the other pulleys.

6

Route the new air conditioner belt around the same pulleys including the adjustable idler pulley. Tighten the belt by turning the bolt on the bottom of the adjustable pulley clockwise until the belt is tight. Check the belt tension by pushing inward on the belt. The belt should have no more than a half-inch of free play to be properly tensioned. If the belt is too tight or too loose, adjust as needed. Once the belt is properly tightened, tighten the bolt down tight in the center of the adjustable idler pulley.

7

Route the new serpentine belt around all of the accessory pulleys including around the adjustable idler pulley. Tighten the serpentine belt by turning the bolt on the bottom of the adjustable pulley clockwise until the belt is tight. Check the belt tension by pushing inward on the belt. The belt should have no more than a half-inch of free play to be properly tensioned. If the belt is too tight or too loose, adjust as needed. Once the belt is properly tightened, tighten the bolt down tight in the center of the adjustable idler pulley.

8

Crank the 1999 Chrysler 300M for about fifteen seconds. Turn the motor off and recheck the tension of both belts. If the belts are too tight or too loose, adjust the tension as needed to reach the required half-inch of free play

Seat belts are the bedrock of automotive passenger safety, and when they break they must be attended to quickly. But the forces at play in a car crash are such that merely repairing a seat belt is a bad idea. A properly functioning seat belt could save a life, and rather than being repaired, seat belts must be replaced altogether to avoid the malfunctioning of any individual part. Seat belt replacement can be done at home with the right tools and technique.

Instructions

1

Remove the car seat. Remove the bolts at the base of the car seat and remove the seat from the vehicle. This will allow easier access to the seat belt.

2

Remove the interior panels that cover the seat belt and retractor.

3

Pull back the bolt cover of the bolt attaching the buckle portion of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle.

4

Remove the bolt attaching the buckle portion of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle with a socket driver.

5

Remove the bolt attaching the retractor with a socket driver.

6

Use a socket driver to remove the bolt that holds the bracket the seat belt is threaded through.

7

Remove the retractor and belt bracket.

8

Pull back the cover over the bolt attaching the belt portion of the seat belt.

9

Remove the bolt attaching the belt portion of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle.

10

Discard the broken seat belt.

11

Bolt the new retractor in place with a socket driver.

12

Use a socket driver to bolt in the new bracket the seat belt is threaded through.

13

Bolt the belt side of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle with a socket driver.

14

Slide the bolt cover over the bolt that attaches the belt side of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle.

15

Bolt the buckle portion of the seat belt to the bottom of the vehicle with a socket driver.

16

Slide the bolt cover over the bolt that attaches the buckle portion of the seat belt to the floor of the vehicle.

17

Replace all interior panels that cover the seat belt and retractor.

18

Bolt the car seat back onto the floor of the vehicle with a socket driver.