Alternator belt articles

[n13l pm]

Hi

How hard of a job is it to change the alternator belt and power steering belt? Iv tried to had a look around for a article, but no luck.

thanks in advance.

[Twpsin]

It is only about a hours job max more like half an hour. it takes longer to jack the car up and remove/replace the wheel than to change the belts

A long reach 14mm spanner is a must it makes life easy for undoing the fan belt tensioning pully nut.

[n13l pm]

thanks, are both the belts that easy mate?

[Paul Beazer]

The hardest one is the alternator pulley bolt as theres very little room between the pulley and the inner wheelarch. I suggest a short 14mm socket and mini ratchet to at least give you a chance. Spaners are no good as they dont grip the bolt deeply enough to undo it and you end up rounding the head!
Other than that, easy!

[n13l pm]

nice one lads

[n13l pm]

Next question is, should I get original belt replacements or copy?

Theres a dude on ebay who can get a hold of main dealer parts for a minor discount compared to the quote I got from main dealer:

Alterbator belt £21.36 incl vat deliveried
Power steering belt £33.95 incl vat delivered

He said he can get get hold of parts on demand.

or should I go for copy belts at £25 for both from japarts.co.uk

[Paul Beazer]

Whenever i've had to get belts i've never bought them from a dealer. I think i got them from JMC and Partco last time. A belt's a belt generally.
About £15 each if i remember.

[Twpsin]

The hardest one is the alternator pulley bolt as theres very little room between the pulley and the inner wheelarch. I suggest a short 14mm socket and mini ratchet to at least give you a chance. Spaners are no good as they dont grip the bolt deeply enough to undo it and you end up rounding the head!
Other than that, easy!

This is the bolt I said you need the long reach 14mm spanner for. I bought a flat doubble ring spanner from Snap-on one which goes in a treat and does not round the nut off. Just be carful you do not over tighten the nut when you put it back.

[n13l pm]

Thanks Twpsin and Paul Beazer. I got the belts from japarts.co.uk for £22 all in. I had a go changing them but falled, the damn alternator pulley bolt was a mission because I didnt have long lever for the mini ratchet. you lot was damn right about the very little room between the pulley and the inner wheelarch! Anyways I going to my mates garage tomorrow night because I know he'll have a longer lever on a mini ratchet. Just a quick question, you lot sure its 14mm bolt? because when I test it with a 14mm spanner it seemed a bit loose but with the socket I thought it was ok.

[Paul Beazer]

Unless someones rounded the head off.......

Pretty sure 14mm is right, unless someones swapped the bolt over?

[n13l pm]

Nah its not rounded off, il find out tonight what size it is.

Thanks again

[Twpsin]

You are better off using a 6 point spanner/socket than a multi point as it does not round the head of the nut. it is also a better fit which is probably why you felt a difference.

[n13l pm]

Need some big big help from some of you lot.. I loosened the tensioner bolt to find the tension pulley bracket had a crack on the area where the adjusting bolt goes in! Therefore I cant tighten the ajusting bolt no more. Below is the bracket, but i need to the part number for the part for my car. Dealer said I have to go there and show them but I cant during the week and they are being pricks over the phone, as I havnt got the part number. I was also thinking about changing the tensioner pulley it self, so a part number for that would be helpful too.. (Iv asked Mo already awaiting his reply)

[n13l pm]

Thanks in advance

[Paul Beazer]

My mates Mazda MX3 V6 had a cracked bracket, so you cant tension the belt using the adjuster bolt. All i did was lever the pulley until the tension in the belt was correct and the nipped up the centre bolt so it was locked in place. The bolt isnt essential, but makes tensioning easier.

[n13l pm]

Thanks a lot mate.

I see where your coming from, il give that ago. I think there is enough for the bolt to rest on..

[Paul Beazer]

Thanks a lot mate.

I see where your coming from, il give that ago. I think there is enough for the bolt to rest on..

If you PM mo (zedy1) im sure he can get you a second hand bracket. As long as you can tension the belt levering the pulley it should be fine. Just make sure the tensioning bolt is secure and isnt likely to fly about. You dont want that getting jammed near a spinning pulley wheel!

[n13l pm]

Yeah that was my only concern, the bolt may seem firmly in place now but not too sure if it will with stand rapid driving. Iv asked Mo already and im awaiting his reply, hopefully he can sort one out for me.

Thanks again Paul, great help.

[Paul Beazer]

As long as the bolt is nice and tight you shouldnt have any issues. Im sure it'll do until you can get the tensioner bracket sorted.

[n13l pm]

Just dropping by to say thanks, got it sorted