scrappydog

Still wanting to find out how to do this correctly. Suspect that my alternator belt is too slack but don't want to over tighten. Any ideas?

PS. Seem to have a ticking noise from around the powersteering/alternator belt area. Sounds a bit like tappets, but doesn't disappear when warm. Could it be powersteering or alternator bearings?

Cheers,

Andy

scrappydog

any ideas?

scrappydog

***please*** someone must know how to do this?

Andy

David_Wallis

slacken the bolt on the face of the bracket near the ps pump.. then wind the other bolt.. ontop if the ps pump bracket to adjust it..

Very easy if you have a look.

David

Leeroy

The alternator pulley is responsible for tensioning the belt. I did mine the other week as it was squeeling a bit. Very simple, do as stated in the previous reply and tighten until the belt can only be twisted through 90 degrees maximum.

scrappydog

David - thanks for the info. I had sussed out how the adjuster mech worked, but I didn't know how tight to have it. Should have made it a little clearer, I know. Do you use the "two finger" method?

Leeroy - is the two fingers and 90 degrees the most accurate method? I'd read various methods varying from 45 deg to 90 deg.

Any other methods of measuring how much tension to put in?

Andy

David_Wallis

I go between 90 and 45 degrees... more towards 45 is my personal preference..

David

tinvek

very hard to describe how to judge tension as its litterally a hands on thing

90 degree twist is good or anotherway is to make sure the belt can be pushed in a bit. basically tighten it so it doesn't slip but not so its like a violin string

scrappydog

Thanks for the info guys!

Am I correct in saying that the "power draw" or restistance of the powersteering pump pully will vary, dependening on the load? In otherwords, if I put the car on full-lock and against the stops the powersteering pump resistance will be very high. Now if I do this, I get a loud shrieking noise and the pulley slips, so much so that I can get the pully to stop rotating due to slip.

Should I be adjusting the belt tension so the powersteering pully never slips OR is some slipage at full lock okay?

Andy

rusty1977

I have this annoying squealing too and the ticking noise. Put a bit of WD40 on the belts and it goes away for a couple of days. Will tightening the belts fix it?

scrappydog

Rusty - tightening belt will almost certainly cure the squaling. Does it squeal more with steering on full lock? Also check the belt for wear or cracking and replace if necessary (quite cheap I think).

I've got rid of the ticking now! The crankshaft pulley bolt was not even finger tight!! I reckon I've caught it early enough so I've not rounded the hole or knackered the woodruff key. Put it back on with some threadlock and should be okay.

BTW, I ran the car (stationary) without the pulley and belts and the engine revs much freer than normal. Bliping throttle the revs rise and fall very quickly. Is this the same effect you get if you lighted the flywheel? Would an aluminium crank pulley give me the same benefit?

Cheers,

Andy