The DIY Thread

BlueSteel said:
I imagine a lot of us are avid DIYers at home, and I was thinking that perhaps a thread dedicated to DIY projects/advice might be appreciated here. I'm envisioning a thread where we can share past, current or upcoming DIY projects and give/receive advice, or just inspire some ideas for those who regularly partake in the sweet satisfaction of completing a DIY project.

I'll start.

DIY SERPENTINE BELT REPLACEMENT?
I was at the mechanic yesterday getting my car's oil changed and A/C system recharged, and they brought to my attention that the serpentine belt was basically hanging on by a thread. Upon being quoted $288 to replace it, I decided to Google it, and I learned that it's actually a pretty easy task I could do myself. I found the right part for my car (Toyota Highlander) and ordered it for $48 from Advance Auto Parts, arriving this week. Saving myself 240 bucks feels pretty good.

Anyone else with experience changing out their serpentine belt? Any tips or anything I need to watch out for? Am I nuts for not letting the mechanic do it?

Thanks in advance!
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Imma be honest with you. This LOOKS easier than it is. Your saving grace is that it's a Toyota so everything is pretty easily accessible....for the most part. Here are my suggestions:

1) Making sure you have all the right tools...it sucks shit when you're in the middle of this project to suddenly notice you don't have what you need. And by that I mean not only should you have a good jack (at least 2tons to be safe) but also a set of jack stands and two wheel chocks. The reason I recommend the stands is actually 2 - 1 bc the while the belt can be replaced from above, removing the front passenger wheel and gaining access from there is easier. The stands can lock in place keeping the car up and the chocks keep it from rolling. I can't tell you how many stores of failing jacks with a 1/2 ton car crashing down nearly taking a finger/hand/foot off I've heard from my greasemonkey friends. No thanks...I'll spend 50 to have a lifetime of useable extremities. Go to Harbor Freight and get a set ... thank me later.

2) the best "tip/trick" I can give you besides how to best gain access is regarding the tensioner -

when you loosen the tensioner keep the socket on the bolt then while the tensioner is loose slide a thin metal bolt into the slot next to the tensioner to keep it in its loosened position then remove the wrench keeping the socket on the bolt so it's easier to remove the belt. This will allow you to not only have two hands (bc you don't need to hold the socket wrench) but also you're not having to keep releasing the tension to snake the belt on which can strip the bolt which would bring all sorts of shit.

I hope that helps and made sense...LMK if you run into issues.

BTW, the reason I know this is bc my GF has a 2013 Highlander and I've had to do all this shit for her. She needs her front brakes done so that's my next project. Thankfully I've done those a shitton of times...lol
 
gregh1 said:
My upcoming DIY project is addressing some gouges the renter's dog gifted my doorframes and old floors.
I may do some sanding with an ancient orbital sander and staining to address the floor, or might just splash some stain on there and call it good-enough, but I'm paying someone to replace the trim (there's trim to be replaced in two other spots too).

I need it to look good enough that the new tenant isn't abhorred, cuz I think a mat might've been covering the dug-up area when i was showing it to him. I'm not interested in paying to have some boards replaced. But I also don't want to sand multiple feet of space to try to blend things...

#petFeeFail

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I would just stain the floor or use a filler pencil, if you're going to rent it.

Now that molding, that's got to go.
 
ZenMode said:
I assume your vehicle has a tensioner. I changed the belt myself because I was the only one at home, but it definitely helps to have someone available to hold the tensioner when taking the belt off and putting new one on.

Other than that, it's generally a really easy job.
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All serpentine belts have a tensioner. If you have the appropriate tools you can easily relieve the tension with one hand and remove the belt with the other.

Are you sure the wrench didn't pop off and hit you in the head?
 
NOVAHEEL13 said:
Imma be honest with you. This LOOKS easier than it is. Your saving grace is that it's a Toyota so everything is pretty easily accessible....for the most part. Here are my suggestions:

1) Making sure you have all the right tools...it sucks shit when you're in the middle of this project to suddenly notice you don't have what you need. And by that I mean not only should you have a good jack (at least 2tons to be safe) but also a set of jack stands and two wheel chocks. The reason I recommend the stands is actually 2 - 1 bc the while the belt can be replaced from above, removing the front passenger wheel and gaining access from there is easier. The stands can lock in place keeping the car up and the chocks keep it from rolling. I can't tell you how many stores of failing jacks with a 1/2 ton car crashing down nearly taking a finger/hand/foot off I've heard from my greasemonkey friends. No thanks...I'll spend 50 to have a lifetime of useable extremities. Go to Harbor Freight and get a set ... thank me later.

2) the best "tip/trick" I can give you besides how to best gain access is regarding the tensioner -

when you loosen the tensioner keep the socket on the bolt then while the tensioner is loose slide a thin metal bolt into the slot next to the tensioner to keep it in its loosened position then remove the wrench keeping the socket on the bolt so it's easier to remove the belt. This will allow you to not only have two hands (bc you don't need to hold the socket wrench) but also you're not having to keep releasing the tension to snake the belt on which can strip the bolt which would bring all sorts of shit.

I hope that helps and made sense...LMK if you run into issues.

BTW, the reason I know this is bc my GF has a 2013 Highlander and I've had to do all this shit for her. She needs her front brakes done so that's my next project. Thankfully I've done those a shitton of times...lol
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Agree about the safety. Saving money on tools isn't worth losing a finger.

Harbor Freight is great for hand tools and very inexpensive.

But be careful with their pneumatic or electrical tools, most of them are single use.
 
Peppers49 said:
We had some mold in the shower a few months ago that needed some demoing and re caulking to fix. Probably not the most difficult thing in the world for someone handy, but for something like that I’d rather just pay someone that actually knows what they’re doing to make sure it’s fixed correctly vs. trying to do it myself.
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This is my approach to almost everything around the house these days.
 
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