ppritchard

Trying to put a new alt belt on and I have loosened everything mentioned in the fsm. Air pump moved -- but the Alternator doesn't seem to budge. I can't seem to find a way to "leverage" it to move down.

Need it to move in order to get the new belt on. Old one broke, so I'm starting from the tight position. What is the best way to move the alternator down to loosen the belt length?
thanks.

Wortex

Open the bolt from the adjusting bar, if the alt wont still move down, "persuade" it down with rubber hammer or etc.

ppritchard

Still missing by maybe an inch or so.
I tried doing the smooth idler last, but thought this pic would show just how much more I need to make it fit.

Still some room on the alternator adjuster to move down, but I can't seem to get it to budge. don't have a rubber mallet.

The air pump has moved as far as it can ( I think).

I'm starting to think I need a different belt, maybe an inch longer. This is the correct one from the Dayco charts.

Any other ideas on moving the alternator that last bit?

thanks

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

are you sure you have the right belt? i know that if you removed your airpump the belt number is 5050310 last time i checked

ppritchard

Still have the airpump and the new belt is 5050530.

Just tried again:
1. alternator drops until something hits underneath but still has room on the adjustment slide thing. I'm guessing that since it's not the original alternator , it can't go any lower than it is.
2. airpump has room on the slide thingy too -- But it won't go any lower due to the line going out the back hits bottom.

Any risk in finding a belt one inch longer??
Thanks

Wortex

Maybe get an inch longer belt, or try to yank it on with screwdriver while rotating the alt pulley. But if it wont yank easily you will probably destroy your new belt. No risk in longer belt if u can tighten it to factory setting.

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

so its a different alternator than stock? is it larger?

ppritchard

Not sure if it is truly different -- but we did replace it and the fact that it won't lower all the way suggests that it's an aftermarket and might have a larger case.

I picked up a one inch longer version of the belt -- so tomorrow I'll see if it can do the trick.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I've ALWAYS had a pain in the *** time with belts from the parts store. More often than not they don't fit, the numbers in their computer are wrong.

Gets even more fun with aftermarket pullies.

You found the two adjusters, the adjusting slot in the airpump and the alternator. Sometimes you can pull the alternator pulley off (if you have an impact gun), put the belt on the pulley, slip the pulley onto the alternator shaft, then tighten the nut back up. But if it's too short, it's too short.

Dale

ppritchard

Thought about taking the whole alternator off, putting the belt on then bolting back the alternator.

Going to try the longer belt tomorrow, just hope it can tighten up enough.

ppritchard

Looks like the one inch longer belt will tighten.

BUT, of course I managed to bust the bolt under the Air Pump. So I'm still stuck.
Going to try and drill it out with a left handed bit.

One step forward, two steps back.

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

i know how that is.. when i upgraded my alt to the irp one, i ended up popping a hole in the coolant line behind it.

Miketc7

orrrr run the belt over the altenator pulley while not having it slide under the water pump pulley yet....and then slide the belt under the water pulley with some help from wd-40 last.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

That's a blessing in disguise, if it broke under those circumstances then it probably would've failed the next time you were blasting down the highway

ppritchard

Finally have it in.

Went with a one inch larger belt (54")

Even then, it was tight. Tried the water pump last but still too snug. So I put it on
everywhere and about a third on the alt -- then used my socket to turn the alt pulley
and the rest rolled on.

Seems to be plenty tight even with the larger (1") belt. I've driven it and now loosened
both belts a little. Give is about 1/4 to 1/3" and seems right.

Thanks for the help.

oyvindjs

iTrader: (4)

belts do stretch abit after some miles use.
The belt tension should be about one thumb when pushed down in the middle of the longest stretch between two points, if i made any sense there