Hi, Please help asap. My wife just called me at work and is having problems with her 2001 Montero LTD. from what she id describing it sounds like she lost the accessory belt. my question is can i change this with a basic tool set? is it just held in place by a conventional tentioner? I have a basic tool set in the truck, or do i need to get more involved? She is out of state and towing will be big $$$.
Please assist if you can, Thanks, Rick

 

If I remember correctly, you should be able to do just about any belt with a socket set, and a long extension.
J

 

if you lost the belt, its probably from a failed belt tensioner.

 

if the belt did jump, there has to be a reason. has the belt ever been changed?? have you had any work done to it recently? did you have the timming belt changed recently?? just want to know. that drive belt is pretty easy to change.

 

OK, I drove out to where she was stuck and found out it was a bad belt tensioner that threw the belt.
I called around to a few Mitsu. dealers and found one about 1/2 hrs away. I got back to the truck and swapped it in the parking lot along with a new belt. The total time to repair it was about 15min. It took longer to untangle the old shredded and torn up belt than to swap the parts.
Costs: $180 for the new Idler pulley
$37 new belt
$217 Total, It would have cost me about $250 to have it towed home from where it was.

She was thinking of getting a new car and this just made her mind up. Anyone want it?
2001 LTD with 59,000mi. Black on Black