Changing the idler pulley, serpentine belt and tension pulley on a 2008 MazdaSpeed 3 is quite easy ( I do not know if this all applies to the regular Mazda 3) and can be completed in a couple hours. I got all my parts from Napa www.napaonline.com / good luck 1. Set the e-brake 2. Loosen the Lug nuts on the Front Passenger Tire 3. Jack the front of the car and support on jack stands 4. Remove the front Passenger tire 5. Remove the bolts that attach the small plastic splash guard toward the front of the fender well ( this gives you a bit more room for getting at the idler) (A view from the top of the engine bay) 6. Use a Combo Wrench on the Tensioner Pulley to slack the belt and slide it off the pulley (Turn the wrench Clock-Wise to slack the belt, note that there is a notch so that the Tensioner can only rotate so far so do not exert the Tensioner beyond the point it feels it stops rotating) 7. Remove the two bolts that hold t...
A blog about my automotive repairs and well lets be realistic, Maine roads are tough on cars so all repairs (mostly suspension and rust inhibiting)