Parts for your 1999 Daihatsu Gran move-Drive belt tensioner

1999 Daihatsu Gran Move drive-belt tensioner — is one actually fitted?

Short answer: a separate, spring-loaded drive-belt tensioner isn’t used on the 1999 Daihatsu Gran Move (G300-series, also sold as Pyzar). The accessory belts are manually tensioned via the alternator and accessory brackets. This layout is documented in Daihatsu’s G300-series Workshop Manual (Engine Mechanical – V-belt/drive belt section) and reflected in common parts catalogues from Gates and Dayco, which list belts and idlers for the Gran Move but no automatic accessory-belt tensioner unit.

Why Daihatsu didn’t use one comes down to the era and design philosophy. Many late-’90s compact Japanese engines ran separate V-belts or multi-rib belts with simple adjuster hardware. On the Gran Move, belt tension is set by loosening a pivot and lock bolt on the alternator or power steering pump, then moving the component (or using an adjuster screw on the A/C/idler bracket) to achieve the correct tension, and tightening everything back up.

That means owners searching for a “serpentine belt tensioner” won’t find a dedicated spring-loaded pulley. Instead, servicing focuses on the belts and the accessory mounts themselves. The timing belt has its own tensioning method, but that’s unrelated to the accessory/drive belts discussed here.

For routine maintenance on a 1999 Gran Move, a sensible approach is:

• Inspect the alternator, power steering and A/C belts for cracking, glazing, fraying and hardening.
• Spin the idler and accessory pulleys by hand with belts off, feel for roughness or play in bearings.
• Adjust belt tension so there’s firm deflection (per the workshop spec) without over-tightening. Too tight can wear alternator and pump bearings, too loose can squeal or slip under load.
• Re-check tension after the first few drives, as new belts can bed in and relax slightly.

This older-school setup is actually pretty robust. It’s simple, cost-effective, and has fewer moving parts to fail compared with a spring tensioner. As long as the belts are in good nick and tensioned correctly, the Gran Move’s charging, power steering and A/C systems will stay happy for ages.

FAQs

Does a 1999 Daihatsu Gran Move have a serpentine belt tensioner?
No. It uses manually adjusted accessory belts. Tension is set at the alternator and other accessory brackets (and an A/C idler where fitted), not by a separate spring-loaded tensioner pulley.

How do you set the drive-belt tension on a Gran Move?
Loosen the accessory’s pivot and lock bolts, adjust the belt using the bracket or adjuster screw until the deflection matches the spec, then retighten. Always check for belt condition first and avoid over-tightening to protect bearings.

What are the signs the belts need attention?
Belt squeal on start-up or when turning the wheel, dimming lights at idle, heavy steering, poor A/C performance at idle, visible cracks or glazing on the belt, or a flapping belt edge all point to wear or incorrect tension.