G1EN

Please, does anyone know why the Fanbelt on my Mk3.5 Fiesta Diesel would keep coming loose and squelling its arse off within a week of driving...

I have fitted a New Alt' Bracket, New Star Adjuster bolt thingy, Used New Locking Nut and Bolt for the Alt Bracket.... oh and of course New Belt cos the they keep slipping off....

abdr500

iTrader: (1)

you must have a bent pully causing it wear out and come of/snap have a look to see how many pullys it also runs off and look to see if damaged or bent

Rs Baz

i was going to say the same thing or is the shaft on the alternator bent

G1EN

Cheers guys.. So the problem could be way past the belt and securing items.

abdr500: Do you mean the Bottom Pully or the pully on the Alternator?

I can get an Alternator, but its only me run-around, so dont wanna spend tons of cash on it. Ł120 for an alternator is lot to gamble if it aint the problem.

Rs Baz: How do you tell if the shaft on the Alternator is bent? The Alt' Pully spin quite freely.

Moonie

Have you got a belt on now? If you have, start the engine and have a look at the pulleys when they are turning to see if any are damaged/buckled (bent shaft) and all are aligned with each other.

With the belt removed inspect the pulleys for damage in the groves. Spin the pulleys and check each is smooth and there is no forward/backward (thrust) play.

If the belt definitely coming loose? It could be getting contaminated by oil, pas fluid etc and causing it to slip.

G1EN

definitly no PAS Fluid (no PAS on the car) and havent got an oil leak anywhere. the area of the belts/pully is bone dry...

but i have to tighten it up again this weekend, so will the alignment and if theres any sideways movement...

the ALT pully is spinning nice and freely... obviously dont know about the bottom pully as that only moves when the cars started..

Ive half temped, just to get a new bottom pully and alternator fitted.

Rs Baz

as moonie says mate start it up and let it run see if you can spot any
damage on the pullys as its on idle, you will notice if there is any damage
to the pully's

G1EN

I re tightened the belt with the star tensioner thingy n see how that goes, n i marked the bracket to see if its the bolt that moves...

But i didnt see no obvious damage with the engine running, both pully's seem to spinning quite true...

Im partially stumped.

Rs Baz

have bothe bolts got locking nuts on if not

replace them with locking one's

G1EN

There's pnly one bolt that goes through the bracket and alternator and i have a nut then a locking nut holding that in place.

2 days of driving, been ok so far after tightning the tensioner star bolt. but normally starts to squel after about 4 days.

paceo

iTrader: (5)

hi glen

best thing i found with my fiesta diesel was to put a trolley jack under the alternator with a piece of wood inbetween. pump the jack up so it pulls the belt really tight and then tighten up the bolts.

see you sunday

Rs Baz

if you do the belt to tight it will nacker the bearings in the
alternator

paceo

iTrader: (5)

i should explain more, i left enought slack on the belt! i didnt tighten it so there was no slack at all

G1EN

Thanks for the help guys, I seem to have sorted it..

have gone a week and a half without the belt sounding like a pig having a romping session...

I adjusted the star tensioner instead of just the usual tightening routine with the bar yanking the Alternator back... This seems to have solved it and kept it taught...

its either that or the Tip-Ex i put on to see if it was the bolt moving and coming lose that is holding it tight...

I reckon its the Tip Ex.

Rs Baz

nice one mate i was thinking about this last night if you
had any luck with it