Yes it's necessaru because your going to want to lower the engine down in order to get a wrench on the belt tensioner bolt. You could use fit a swevil head possible but it's really tight, also getting a torque wrench on their is impossible (40ft lbs).

After you've removed the top engine mount / torque strut mount (which is the mount on the bottom left side), you're going to want to wedge a piece of wood between a jack (scissors jack works) and your oil pan for support. That way you can dip the engine down and raise it later on.

 

woah, i never lowered my motor. the only reason you have to take the mount off is because the belt goes around it. I guess you could and it might make it easier, but I don't remember it being that bad. I guess because I have one of the simpler flex-type torque wrenches it fit in there no problem, The biggest pain as I remember it was getting to the bolts that hold the covers on. ratcheting wrenches come in real handy.

 

that's not the only reason. it is indeed to let the engine drop a bit for much better clearance to get things done. this means unbolting the engine from the side mount in the engine bay as well. it makes a big difference in being able to get things done efficiently and correctly.

 

i'm not trying to disagree with that. But that is optional, a lot of times the lower mount is very difficult to remove because of rust, on both of my cars it wasn't really an option. The only mount that you have to remove is the side mount.

 

The AC belt wraps around the lower mount, and the timing belt wraps around the upper mount.

If you don't have AC, i guess its possible to do without lowering the engine.

 

how much are we talking about lowering it here? I just didn't realize you guys did that. even when i take off the lower mount I just leave the motor up on the jack where it is.

When that lower mount is too rusty i just detach the mount from the AC compressor to change that belt.

 

Its safe to lower it a few inches, while supporting the engine with a jack. I never had any problem getting a ratchet in there either, but I always took both mounts out of the way.