Replacing 2009 Honda Fit serpentine belt without jacking up

 Tools and supplies;

1. 19mm closed end wrench
2. Tie down strap or large zip tie
   
3. Flash light 
4. New serpentine belt (I used Gates K05448)
   

 

The picture above shows the underside method. But you can do it from the top.

1. Put a 19mm closed end wrench on the tensioner. Try to start with the wrench angled as far towards the nose as possible so you can move the tensioner as far up as possible. Pull the wrench towards the windshield. Using a tie down strap, zip tie etc. secure the wrench
2. Remove the old belt
3. Blindly move the new belt around the two bottom pulleys. Then tuck the belt under the tensioner and over the alternator pulley. Ignore the middle pulley for now (this is the trick).

4. Move the belt around the middle pulley to get it into position.

   Then ease off on the wrench/tensioner and you are done.

   Inspect the belt positioned right before driving.
   

 

This allows you to do it by yourself... though in reality, there isn't much room for someone to help anyway.

Mosquito Magnet Defender Repair

My 10 yrs old Mosquito Magnet Defender failed early this summer.
After couple of hours of web research, it seemed the thermocouple was failing.
This guide was helpful.
I was lucky to find the Defender schematic on the web which had the thermistor part number on it.
I've ordered the part from Digi-key (part# KCD14G-ND). The part itself was only a couple of $.
Here's how I repaired the thermocouple;

1. The thermistor was glued on the thermocouple with some kind of resin. I heated the resin on the gas stove for about 30 sec and broke with pliers and screw driver.

Heated thermocouple (left) new thermistor (right)

Cleaned thermocouple

2. After completly removing the resin with a utility knife, I glued the thermistor with epoxy. I used JB Weld Original cold weld formula.

3. After 24 hrs of curing time, I reassembled the thermocouple using silicone cauking (the nylon screw was broken and the hardware store in the area didn't have it) .

The thermistor max opetrating temperture is 220 degree C, which is within the JB Weld epoxy and silicone caulking's max temp.

I've had it run for all summer 2014 and had no issue.
If your Mosquito magnet failed, it's worth the try!!