Figured I'd put this out there for anyone who was interested in changing their own engine belts but wasn't feeling very comfortable. I have a 2007 M35x so, at the least, this would be the same for the 2006 M35. I haven't seen the 08/09 car so I can't say if this process is any different but it should be since I believe it's the EXACT same motor. This should give you the general idea though.
*Disclaimer* - I am not liable for anything you do to your car. This is just a basic walkthrough.
I took the pics with my HTC EVO 4G from Sprint (love this phone). End of shameless plug lol.
Task: Change the engine belts
Time: About an hour and a half if you work slowly and take caution
Tools/Supplies Needed:
Process:
1) Jack the car up in a safe manner so you can get under it to do the work.
2) Remove the front underbody splash shield using the 10mm socket + extension (if need be):
You will be then left with this:
3) Remove the first part of the air intake system to give yourself some room from the top and to allow in more light (helped me - this might be an optional step)
4) Locate the tensioner pulley bolts
5) Loosen the bolts until the pulleys move all the way down and swap belts. To be honest with you, I couldn't get the main belt on no matter what I did and ended up stripping the bolt a little bit (the head part). I had the dealer do that belt for me. I got the smaller belt on fine. Not sure why I wasn't able to get the main one on because as far as I know the dealer used the belt I supplied them with (according to the paperwork).
6) Tighten the belts till they have the same or slightly tighter inflection as before.
7) If you have chirping when the car is running, you have to tighten the belts more. Otherwise, you are done.
*Disclaimer* - I am not liable for anything you do to your car. This is just a basic walkthrough.
I took the pics with my HTC EVO 4G from Sprint (love this phone). End of shameless plug lol.
Task: Change the engine belts
Time: About an hour and a half if you work slowly and take caution
Tools/Supplies Needed:
- 10mm socket + maybe one extension to take off the splash shield and first part of the air intake system
- 12mm (I believe - may be 14mm) socket to loosen tensioner pulleys
- Both drive belts - I got the 60k maintenance kit from Sewell Infiniti (link) which had these in the kit. The part numbers for the belts are (according to google since Sewell doesn't list them on the kit information) 11920-AG900 (smaller belt) and 11720-4P10A (larger belt).
- Car jack and proper support (so you don't get crushed)
Process:
1) Jack the car up in a safe manner so you can get under it to do the work.
2) Remove the front underbody splash shield using the 10mm socket + extension (if need be):
You will be then left with this:
3) Remove the first part of the air intake system to give yourself some room from the top and to allow in more light (helped me - this might be an optional step)
4) Locate the tensioner pulley bolts
5) Loosen the bolts until the pulleys move all the way down and swap belts. To be honest with you, I couldn't get the main belt on no matter what I did and ended up stripping the bolt a little bit (the head part). I had the dealer do that belt for me. I got the smaller belt on fine. Not sure why I wasn't able to get the main one on because as far as I know the dealer used the belt I supplied them with (according to the paperwork).
6) Tighten the belts till they have the same or slightly tighter inflection as before.
7) If you have chirping when the car is running, you have to tighten the belts more. Otherwise, you are done.