HELP ! alternator belt ! how tight???

[sonic_vi]

Hi - got a Toledo 20vt sport

Just changed my alternator as the pulley had seized and then sheared off (went from squeeking a bit to dropping off in 2 hours !!! never seen that before)

Anyway replaced the alternator etc and cant get the belt in place

checked and double checked I am routing it right but it seems like the belt is about 1cm too short - what gives?

I've changed belts on astras and vectras before and it was just feed the belt, wind back the tensioner, drop the belt on and let go and the tensioner does the work.

this almost looks like when I let the tensioner go it wouldn't move even if I could get the belt on

Am I missing some trick to getting it back on? Need to get the car back on the road asap so would appreciate the help

Cheers guys

Russ

 

[Ronin225]

Assuming the car has aircon, a non aircon belt is shorter.
Definitely the right belt?

 

[sonic_vi]

Yeah i havent changed the belt just the alternator!

 

[Ronin225]

Pulley definitely the same size?
They are quite tight when installed, tensioner moving back fully?

 

[sonic_vi]

Yeah alt pulley same size.

Tensioner is locked out with a pin

How hard should it be? Should it just slip on or do you need to lever it into place?

 

[Ronin225]

Its not that easy to get on, you need to force it.
Id try and take the tensioner off the pin and see if you can manually hold it further back while you drop the belt over alternator

 

[sonic_vi]

Ok i took the tensioner off to try and fit the belt and it wont even drop on without the tensioner being there i dont get it!?!???

From someone who has refitted one what is the technique?

 

[Ronin225]

I normally go round the crank pulley and powersteering then up to a/c
This holds it well enough to allow you to get it under the tensioner and then with the tensioner held back I hook it over the alternator
You do have the alternator bolted back into the correct place?

 

[sonic_vi]

I dunno. Managed to get it fitted.

Cant see how the alternator could fit any different .

Anyway fitted the belt without the tensioner, then got the tensioner en situ and got one bolt in. Had it locked out with a pin so got a spanner on the tensioner and put pressure on the belt and got bolts 2 & 3 in and nipped everything up. Seems to work ok but thing I need to do a throttle body alignment as its idling rough as hell now. must have missed something.

 

[sonic_vi]

Throttle body alignment done and she's running sweet.

 

[westie309]

How did you align the throttle body ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sonic_vi]

Vag com. there is a way you can do it without i think. Google will tell you