Tightening alternator belt

[Jas]

I fitted a new alternator at the weekend (to my 16v) but found it difficult to adjust the belt.
How do you adjust it and what tools do you need?

 

[turbo man]

You need a very large Hex Key and an adjustable spanner. Probably need to go throught the front inner wing if the engine is in. You will see a pulley just below the powersteering pump. Loosen the hex bolt in the middle of the pulley about half a turn. You will the be able to move the outer but with the adjustable spanner. Move the adjustbalble spanner and hold it. Get someone to check the tension then lock off the hex bolt. Hope this helps mate. I used an allen key that is used to remove break calipers from a ford. Just happens to be the right size mate.

 

[Jas]

The engine is in, so how do you go through the wing?

 

[chip16v]

i dont think you can go through the wing. when i changed my belt i took out the headlight to give myself more room. even with the headlight out its a trickey job.

it makes me laugh how on most cars changing the fan belt is one of the easiest jobs but on a valver there is no such thing as a easy job

 

[Jas]

yeah, I noticed that when I fitted it!

so if I take the headlight out (again!) I can adjust it? It seemed a mighty tight fit in there.

 

[BenR]

yes, its just tight. If you want you can undo the top engine mount, put a jack under teh summp and lift it a few inches........

Chip, it would be hard to change a fanbelt on a valver if there was one....

 

[chip16v]

quite right ben thanks for showing me the error of my ways, i just couldnt be arsed to write auxiliary drivebelt and assumed people would no what i meant.

 

[JAY172]

take the headlight out,remove the 10m bolt in the pipe/wire cover on the n/s inner wing,pull up the cover and you can get on the tensioner a peice of piss.you need a 7m allen key for the centre and a 24m spanner for the outside of the tensioner.the allen key holds the tensioner and the 24m is used to adjust up the belt,once the belt is adjusted up tighten the allen key to hold the tension.

 

[Jas]

cheers guys, nice one! now i just need to buy a 24m spanner!