Accessing bolts to replace drivebelts

[RatLabGuy]

Sooo.... I let my alternator belt go a little too long... and it snapped... luckily was only a mile from home, wasn't too worried... I'd forgotten it also drived the water pump (yikes!).

Figured i'd replace them both while I'm at it.

Read up on it, seems easy enough task, I've done this is plenty of other cars.

But - is there some magic trick to actually accessing the two mounting bolts on the alternator??? Good Good, looks like you need the hands of a 5 year old to reach under there. Especially the lower one - can't even see it, just *know* where it is.Is that one just better reached through the wheel well? Looks like I have some plastic covers in there i'd have to get out of the way.
meanwhile the !@#$ lower bolt on the power steering pump (for the other belt) is really stuck... I can get to it easy w/ box-end or ratcheting wrench, but won't budge... can't *quite* fit extension socket+ratchet w/ enough room to slip a pipe over it.... grrrr....
is that one also accessible from underneath, if i remove the wind guard etc?

Ok ranting over....

 

[raserx]

I recently replaced water pump/timing belt/acc. belts etc. and the alternator is definitely a pain to access. I had the front of the car up on jack stands and had to get at it from underneath. Trust me , I did it twice 'cause I let the timing marks slip on the first try.(braindead

 

[CheeseHelmet]

The lower bolt (bolt B) on the alternator is much easier to access from under the car, the tensioner bolts are easier to get at from the top. You need to unbolt the cruise control actuator to get enough space to work the tensioner (bolts A and C). Just remove the 2 10mm nuts and fold the actuator over to the right (it sits quite comfortably on top of the engine). At that point even the fattest hands should have no problems working in there

I forget how I worked the P/S pump tensioner, but something tells me I did it from the top. You're having problems with bolt B? I'd soak it in a penetrating lube and wait.

If you do end up removing the passenger-side splash guard, have some self-tapping screws handy, those tiny bolts like to break when they get rusty. The good news is that they drill-out very easily...

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

The magic trick is definitely to go at the bolt from underneath. Good luck!

 

[RABID_MP5]

All this reminds me why I wondered about this mod

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...r-rig-alternator-wp-belt-for-easy-adjustments