Aux belt fitting advice

[RichieJA]

I seen there is a few ways to change aux kit.
Would removing the bumper and slam panel be easier than going in from the side and removing subframe and engine mount or vise versa ???
Any tips or things I should look out for, is the tensioner self tensioning ?

 

[dangerous dave]

If someone's experienced then they might be able to do it blind with one hand tied behind the bonnet shut and the wheels on..

I however would have the lights, bumper, mounts, wheels, arch plastic out the way so I can see..

 

[RichieJA]

I keep hearing about the tensioner being a nighmare I was just gonna cutvthr belt off to make it easier its getting it back on that worries me

 

[dangerous dave]

I can't remember it being hard, but I have a tool for everything and a decent jack..

The tensioner needed the jubilee clamping trick, but other than that it was a breeze. I had the car stripped for the cambelt so I'm unsure about how little could be removed.

 

[RichieJA]

I can't remember it being hard, but I have a tool for everything and a decent jack..

The tensioner needed the jubilee clamping trick, but other than that it was a breeze. I had the car stripped for the cambelt so I'm unsure about how little could be removed.

My cambelt was done along with water pump and alternator by last owner have recipet and the parts are shiney why they didn't do aux belt baffles me

 

[dangerous dave]

It saved them about £15 not doing it.. Doh

Get the belt, pulleys, tensioner, bolt and just remove what you have too..

I'm pretty sure I needed access via the bumper area and light, so plan to remove those.

 

[RichieJA]

I want to make it as easy as I can so will remove bumper light and wheel and liner just start early so I have all day and pray for no rain

 

[dangerous dave]

Make sure you have a few large quality jubilees around the 50mm size.. You won't be removing your tensioner without damaging your bolt/thread and certainly won't have an easy time replacing. I'm also sure I got my larger lever bar involved at some point, another essential.

 

[RichieJA]

I got the jublie and a large choice of different length bars what do you men about damaging the tensioner bolts ?

 

[dangerous dave]

You need to compress the tensioner and wind in the bolt clean, if it's on the wonk, it damage the thread.

 

[RichieJA]

.

 

[RichieJA]

Ahh get it thanks glad you said that I'll be extra careful with it was planning on getting to it like this

 

[RS Charlie]

Another thing to bear in mind is to get a genuine Renault belt kit. They seem to be cheaper than ECP and apparently are easier to fit as the belt is not too thick.

 

[RichieJA]

I got a genuine one expecting it delivered today not the best weather for it lol

 

[RichieJA]

What a nightmare had to give up at 6pm struggling to get tensioner on even with clip just kept jumping off

 

[dangerous dave]

What a nightmare had to give up at 6pm struggling to get tensioner on even with clip just kept jumping off

I'm sure that's where I rested the lever bar onto and put some weight on it while I put the bolt...

Bolts like this have to go in with fingers, because the alternative is, thread it using a 3/8 drive socked, then remove, spend ages retapping the hole, same for the bolt and finish by putting it in with fingers...

It totally sucks but I have an unfunny story that involves a gearbox drain hole and a threaded drain hole bung and then a cracked gearbox drain hole.. I finally told them to step away from the vehicle and to put the ratchet down.

 

[RichieJA]

The top of tension is half an inch too high can't even attempt to get it in should I put the tensioner in before or after the belt ?

 

[bloke]

take the top bolt off the alternator and pull it forward, this gives you more slack on the belt.

 

[RichieJA]

I'll give that a go in the morning thanks

 

[RichieJA]

Took me from 10 to 1 what a c**t of a job and II dropped my bumper scratched it next time I'll pay the 200 for a garage lol

 

[RS Charlie]

Damn, I was thinking of changing the belt myself and even making up a tool to allow me to change belt and idlers! I do have a welder after all...

 

[bozothenutter]

Like bloke said....release the alternator, makes it sooooo much easier

 

[RichieJA]

The only issue is the tensioner remove the spring off tensioner put it all together and use a high quality jublie clip the cheap ones snap, to compress the spring then put tensioner back on you need to compress it a massive amount, I never has a vice so I used 2 shifting spanners to stop the clip sliding off, as said above careful you don't damage the thread on the top nut, my was a mess it had been drilled out before and I suspect will need done again next change because of the mess I made of it.

 

[Matt1234]

I have done a few of these now. I just use a high quality jubilee clip to compress the tensioner spring. Then I just put the belt on the crank pulley as much as I can then rotate the crank and let the belt rotate on. Works every time for me. I had no need for levers. Hope this helps a few of you. I have found this to be the easiest way. Then once on release the tension on the jubilee. Job done. I do the same on removal.
Hope this helps.