My Mazda3 2010 has two belts and it's like this:

http://mazda3carpet.com/wp-content/uploads/belt.gif

This post has more pictures:
How To mazda 3 2.3 Belt install - Mazda3Club.com : The Original Mazda3 Forum

Thanks sa info.


Quote Originally Posted by oj88 View Post
Depends on the belt configuration. Not familiar with Mazdas but if it uses a dedicated belt for the A/C compressor, removing it should still make the vehicle fully functional... it's just going to be a sweaty drive.

If it uses a sepentine belt, if you lose it, the vehicle is effectively immobilized. Force it to run and extensive damage can occur.

The serpentine belt is a single long belt that drives pretty much everything, from the A/C compressor, the alternator, water pump, and hydraulic power steering (if not EPS).

Drive belts are very robust and should not break easily under normal circumstances unless it's still being used past its designated period of replacement. Like a lot of things, the belt is a wear & tear part that needs to be replaced at an interval usually indicated in the owners' manual.