Alternator belt help! (in France so help needed asap!!)

[si macc]

Hi all,

Forgive me if there is an answer out there but on iphone as no Internet cafe and is expensive. in France half way through our 2 week holiday and our alternator belt on our 1.6td jx has failed. I managed to locate another but even using some wd40 I have been unable to loosen the bolts on the pulley wheel. Has anyone got any ideas on how to get this off? I guess it will be a trip to the local garage if not but what could they do? Is the any alternatives such as using tights just to get us home?!!

Thanks in advance.

Si

[dazzzer1]

well if they wont come undone possibly get it on all but the alternator pulley. then using a screw driver wedge it on whilst turning he pulley...just an idea.

not sure tights would last that long....maybe a trip to the garage is imminent

daz

[bugtastic]

what bout one of the universal cut to length clip together get you home jobs that you can get in halfords there must be a similer type thing available in france good luck

[Ian Hulley]

Surely you slacken the alternator mountings and adjuster to fit a belt ? At least you have on every car/van I've ever driven. You can't seriously expect to take a pulley off and rebuild it with the belt under any tension ?

I can't believe you drive in the UK without a spare belt let alone go abroad without one.

Ian.

[si macc]

Thanks all for the help. Going to go back and see if the place we got the belt from has a clip on one (it was the French version of halfords).

Ian - Its a steep learning curve having never owned a vehicle before let alone a 20year old one...I can't get the alternator belt on without taking off the pump belt.

[Titus A Duxass]

On mine, which is a single belt set up, you do not have to remove any pulleys.
As Ian stated simply slacken off the alternator mounts, Bob's yer uncle n Fannies yer Aunt.

[Ian Hulley]

I don't 'do' d****l but if you have to remove the PAS pump drive belt to do it then I'm sure it'll be an equally simple. Slacken off the pump, slip off the belt etc etc. Do you have breakdown cover ?

Ian

[protexblue]

On a diesel you do have to undo water pump pulley to access alt. belt.
Si have you tried using two spanners, assuming they are hex head bolts hold one whilst undoing another, then for
the last one use a screwdriver through bolt hole to lock it enough to undo.
Hope this helps, a while since I last did it.

[billy739]

single or double belt setup?

these should always be reaplced before a long trip/ every couple of years just so you know they can be if needed!

mole grips on the head bolts , but you will prob need new bolts!

its poss you can fit a single belt in stead if you have access to a selection of belts. the garage should be able to sort the length measurement.

i am sure the system alows a twin or single belt setup, single belt just reduces altenator speed , ok to keep you going.

[Plasticman]

billy whats the belt number for a single belt set up
mike

[danjavantey]

i use a 900A halfords code on my one belt systerm the ribbed one as it gets better grip i use a 900C first its wider and a smell of burning rubber is present for a while till it beds in, not ideal but works well all the same.

if you got one you could drop the alternator down cut the pump belt off as go single belt

[Plasticman]

Thanks for that, handy to have as it saves splitting the pump pulley and is quicker as a temp repair
mike

[si macc]

Hi everyone,

thanks all for the help. I had a 2 belt setup which has now been reduced to one. Thank god as all of our gadgets had just about run out of juice.

And before anyone asks, yes I did buy a spare one!!

[dazzzer1]

Surely you slacken the alternator mountings and adjuster to fit a belt ? At least you have on every car/van I've ever driven. You can't seriously expect to take a pulley off and rebuild it with the belt under any tension ?

I can't believe you drive in the UK without a spare belt let alone go abroad without one.

Ian.

sorry ian didnt read it right, didnt see the reference to pully.

as a matter of interest the belt on some beetle and bay engines is adjusted by shims which you put on the pully and not by loosening mounting bolts, maybe this is where the confusion came from about taking the pully bolt off

[Ian Hulley]

No probs Dug old mate, tbh if it's a d****l so I'm not kosher with it anyroad It may just be me but I find it incredible that folks will take their family and wander round Europe without the essential spares/tools and knowledge to fix basic roadside breakdowns. I know I'm a little overboard having been recovered from Belgium before but still ........