trick to replacing alternator belt?

blckspder · Post by **blckspder** » January 21st, 2006, 1:57 pm

Hello,

I am trying to replace my alternator belt in my 92 mx-3. I got the old belt off but I cant get the new one on its soo close to fitting over the top pulley but just doesnt have enough give and I have the alternator pushed as far towards the engine it will go to relieve tension. any ideas???? Thanks

Limegreen mx-3 · Post by **Limegreen mx-3** » January 21st, 2006, 2:03 pm

You sure the the new belt is the same size as the old belt.

Thier is a bolt u can loosing. Check the bottom of the alt. bolted to the block size 14mm loosing it go give it some play so that u can fit the new belt.

blckspder · Post by **blckspder** » January 21st, 2006, 2:21 pm

yup its the same size belt. Its a duralast 342k4, got it from autozone... Ill try that bottom bolt and let you know

blckspder · Post by **blckspder** » January 21st, 2006, 4:09 pm

I tried lossening that belt even sprayed it to eat up the rust and I cant get it loose.. is there any other way? to get the belt to stretch a bit? I tried to get the power steering belt on but that doesnt want to seem to go on either.. and I can push the pump down pretty far the hoses are holding it back but those Im having a tough time getting off and Im not sure I want to take them off.

mcfly · Post by **mcfly** » January 21st, 2006, 5:49 pm

blckspder wrote:I tried lossening that belt even sprayed it to eat up the rust and I cant get it loose.. is there any other way? to get the belt to stretch a bit? I tried to get the power steering belt on but that doesnt want to seem to go on either.. and I can push the pump down pretty far the hoses are holding it back but those Im having a tough time getting off and Im not sure I want to take them off.

put more back into it

u'll get it loose eventually.

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » January 21st, 2006, 6:10 pm

Yeah the replacement belts wont go on easily... its a pain in the a**. For the alternator belt - it helps if you first fit the crank pulley and the alternator pulley and then try to fit the belt over the water pump pulley. Be prepared to scrape some knuckles ....

DJGypsy · Post by **DJGypsy** » January 23rd, 2006, 12:10 am

you can try this, i've been successful with this method.

pull your plug wires before you do this, you don't want the engine to start.

put the belt on the crank pulley, then the water pump. work as much of the belt as you can onto the alternator pulley. get a big socket wrench, and start turning the crank SLOWLY, in the direction that will cause the belt to feed onto the alternator pulley the rest of the way.

bingo. worked for me, saved my knuckes.

good luck!

jimishadow · Post by **jimishadow** » January 23rd, 2006, 5:49 pm

by stretching a new belt on is gonna damage the belt...get the bolts loose and it will move enough to slip it on easily.use half inch drive ratchet or long wrench to break it ..

DJGypsy · Post by **DJGypsy** » January 23rd, 2006, 9:12 pm

jimishadow wrote:by stretching a new belt on is gonna damage the belt...get the bolts loose and it will move enough to slip it on easily.use half inch drive ratchet or long wrench to break it ..

the belt will stretch considerably anyways the first week or so that it is on. why do you think you always have to tighten the belts shortly after you put them on? accessory belts are a lot more stretchy than say a timing belt, just by their nature. i replaced both of my accessory belts using this method. my belts are now over 20k miles into their life. no problems. all else fails, get a longer belt. BUT: if you do get a longer belt, after it is broken in and stretched, you might not have enough adjustment in the tensioner mechanisms to accomodate the longer belt.

jimishadow · Post by **jimishadow** » January 23rd, 2006, 9:57 pm

yes the whole belt stretches....and settles into the groove and needs retighting,,,,by forcing it over the side of the pulley you can damage the belt in that one spot .

blckspder · Post by **blckspder** » January 23rd, 2006, 10:14 pm

I finally got the belts on... and now they are squealing after 2 days.. they are lined up alright.. but after reading all the replies Its probably because they now need to be tightened.. Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

Antoni

DJGypsy · Post by **DJGypsy** » January 23rd, 2006, 11:49 pm

blckspder wrote:I finally got the belts on... and now they are squealing after 2 days.. they are lined up alright.. but after reading all the replies Its probably because they now need to be tightened.. Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

Antoni

yup, sounds about right, squeaking after a few days. just get them snug enough so that they no longer squeak, and you'll be just fine

mcfly · Post by **mcfly** » January 24th, 2006, 12:11 am

ok i don't know if you all have the same setup as i do, but in order for me to take the alternator belt off, i need to take another belt off first, not sure what the belt is called though, dont know much about cars. Any way around this?

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » January 24th, 2006, 1:04 am

mcfly wrote:not sure what the belt is called though,

Its the power steering (and AC) belt

mcfly wrote:Any way around this?

No... cant think of any other way...

(wish we could switch to a fuel cell engine

- then there will be no belts at all)