fan belt hell

[soldendave]

hi everyone
what a find this site was just joined recently and have already found a few people with some problems i have encountered/solved in the past. Now though i'm hoping you can help me out as i have a recurring problem with my fanbelt on my 1.6d hitop. i have replaced 4 fanbelts and they all lasted around 20miles. the water pump pulley wheel seems a little stiff. i have adjusted the shims to tighten and loosen the belt to no avail. tried a few different belts but they still keep snapping has anyone had the same problem? could it be a ceased water pump?
are there any more substancial belts i could use?
there were a few spare belts under the back seats when i got the van from the previous owner so i suspect it has been an ongoing problem is it normal?

any help or thoughts appreciated

dave

[simony]

sounds like it could be water pump ! can you leave it running and watch and seee what happens ?

[kevtherev]

pump pulley should be free to move

[mrted]

Whats the belt alignment like, do the pulleys look to be lined up?

Are the contact surfaces shiny and not rusty?


John

[Syncro G]

Take it its the crank to pump belt breaking on a twin belt setup? Must be overloading the belt if the belt pulleys aren't damaged or out of line, and the pump sounds screwed. Its possable the pump became damaged by one of the belts being set too tight in the past, probubly the shim ajusted one - too much belt tension stresses the bearings and pumps and altinators aren't designed to take alot of it.