- 1). Open the hood on the 2001 Honda CRV and locate the alternator on the left-hand side of the engine. The alternator has a top mounting bolt on the top of the alternator and an adjustment bracket on the bottom of the alternator.
- 2). Loosen the top mounting bolt with the ratchet, extension and a socket. Turn the bolt counterclockwise to loosen it.
- 3). Loosen the lock nut in the middle of the adjustment bracket below the alternator with the ratchet, extension and a socket.
- 4). Locate the adjustment bolt at the end of the adjustment bracket. Turn the adjustment bolt counterclockwise with the ratchet, extension and socket until the belt is loose enough to pull out of the alternator pulley, crankshaft pulley and the air conditioner pump pulley. Then, remove the belt from all three pulleys and pull the belt out of the engine area.
- 5). Place the old alternator belt beside the new alternator belt and make sure that they match. Then, route the new alternator belt inside of all three accessory pulleys.
- 6). Turn the adjustment bolt clockwise to tighten the belt. Once the belt becomes tight, check the tension of the belt with your hand. Push inward on the belt between the alternator and the crankshaft. If the belt has more than a half-inch of free play, continue to tighten the adjustment bolt until there is no more than a half-inch of free play in the belt.
- 7). Tighten the top mounting bolt and the lock nut with the ratchet, extension and socket. Then, inspect the new alternator belt to make sure that it is properly seated inside of all three accessory pulleys.
- 8). Crank the 2001 Honda CRV and watch the new alternator belt as it turns around the three pulleys, just to make sure that it stays seated while the motor is running. Let the motor run for about 10 to 20 seconds. Then, turn the engine off and close the hood.
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