In brief: locate the belt tensioner, rotate it to relieve tension, and slide the belt off the pulleys. Use a ratchet or breaker bar with a 14mm bolt or a tensioner tool, depending on your engine, then remove the belt.
Honda offered a couple of engine options for the 2005 Accord (most notably a 2.4L inline-4 and a 3.0L V6). While the exact belt routing varies by engine, the removal process is fundamentally the same: relieve tension, slip the belt from the pulleys, and set it aside. Always check the under-hood routing diagram or the service manual for your specific engine to avoid mistakes during reassembly.
What you’ll need
Have these tools and precautions ready before you begin the belt removal.
- Safety glasses and work gloves
- Ratchet wrench or breaker bar
- 14mm socket or open-end wrench (or the tool appropriate for your tensioner)
- Optional belt-tensioner tool or a square-hole tensioner insert (if your engine uses a square-hole method)
- Vehicle on level ground with parking brake set; disconnect the negative battery if you’ll be near electrical components or will be working near the engine while it’s powered
With these tools and precautions in place, you’re ready to locate the tensioner and begin removing the belt.
Removing the belt: step-by-step
Follow these steps to safely release the belt tension and remove the belt from the pulleys.
- Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt routing diagram on the radiator support or in the owner’s manual for your engine. Identify the belt tensioner and all pulleys (alternator, power steering, A/C compressor, water pump, idler pulleys).
- Attach the appropriate tool to the belt tensioner. Depending on your engine, you may use a 14mm socket/wrench or insert a breaker bar into the tensioner’s square hole if equipped.
- Relieve tension by turning the tensioner in the direction specified for your model (usually toward the front of the engine or toward the engine). Maintain pressure to hold the tension released.
- Slide the belt off the tensioner pulley first, then work it off the other pulleys. It’s often easiest to start with the top pulleys and work downward, keeping track of the belt path for reinstallation.
- Remove the belt completely and inspect it for wear. If you’re planning a belt replacement, compare the new belt to the old one to confirm you have the correct size and routing.
Once the belt is removed, you can inspect pulleys, the tensioner for noise or play, and the belt itself for cracking or glazing before deciding on replacement.
Reinstalling or replacing the belt
When you’re ready to reinstall or replace the belt, follow these steps to route and tension it correctly.
- Position the belt around all pulleys except the tensioner, following the routing diagram exactly.
- Thread the belt so that it sits in the grooves of all pulleys, leaving the tensioner pulley for last.
- Install the belt onto the tensioner pulley, then rotate the tensioner again to slip the belt into place. Ensure the belt seats fully in all pulley grooves.
- Double-check that the belt is aligned properly on every pulley and that no belts edge are hanging outside the grooves.
- Reconnect the negative battery if it was disconnected, start the engine, and listen for unusual noises. Visually inspect that the belt remains properly aligned during operation.
A worn or cracked belt should be replaced rather than reused. If in doubt, consult a service professional or the official service manual for your exact engine variant, as routing and tensioning specifics can differ between the 2.4L I4 and the 3.0L V6 options for the 2005 Accord.
Summary
Removing the serpentine belt on a 2005 Honda Accord is a straightforward task when you have the right tools and follow the belt routing diagram. Relieve the tension on the tensioner, slip the belt off the pulleys, and then route and tension a replacement belt carefully if needed. Always verify belt alignment and pulley condition after installation to ensure reliable operation.