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trick to replacing alternator belt?
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 1:57 pm
by blckspder
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
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 2:03 pm
by Limegreen mx-3
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.
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 2:21 pm
by blckspder
yup its the same size belt. Its a duralast 342k4, got it from autozone... Ill try that bottom bolt and let you know
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 4:09 pm
by blckspder
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.
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 5:49 pm
by mcfly
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.
Posted: January 21st, 2006, 6:10 pm
by ariesdude
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 ....
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 12:10 am
by DJGypsy
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!
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 5:49 pm
by jimishadow
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 ..
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 9:12 pm
by DJGypsy
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.
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 9:57 pm
by jimishadow
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 .
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 10:14 pm
by blckspder
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
Posted: January 23rd, 2006, 11:49 pm
by DJGypsy
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
Posted: January 24th, 2006, 12:11 am
by mcfly
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?
Posted: January 24th, 2006, 1:04 am
by ariesdude
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)