Any Rover experts - need to change alternator
 

The car hasn't been used since before Christmas due to the snow etc, went to start it today and it wouldn't start so jump started it and the alternator belt melted and snapped in quite dramatic fashion due to billowing smoke. The alternator has seized by the looks of it causing the belt to melt as it span round a static alternator pulley.

Can anyone explain how to change the alternator? Will buy one off ebay plus a belt. I take it once i've disconnected the battery the alternator just unbolts off the front of the engine? However what about fitting the new one and adjusting tension for the new belt?

I've asked on the Rover forum but no replies as of yet and I know there are a few ex Rover owners on here.

If it's fairly modern Rover then you will likely have a multi-plug on the rear of the alternator which needs disconnecting, alternatively this may be wires held on by small nuts. Then it is just a case of unbolting it.

There will probably be a pretensioner on the side of the block so you would just need to put a socket on this and lever it (clockwise I think) so that you can fit the belt back on the alternator pulley. Once the tensioner is released, the belt will tighten itself. Just remember the path the belt takes before you take it off as I doubt it will be a circle as it will pass the alternator tensioner, the pretensioner and the bottom pulley. Maybe the aircon or powersteering pulley too.

Thanks for your reply. Sorry should have mentioned it is a 1997 Rover 214si. Unfortunately there is no belt on there as it snapped this morning so can't check how it should go. Thankfully there is no aircon so one less thing to worry about.

Can get this done at a garage for £52 or so for the labour and so £25 roughly for the alternator off ebay including postage but really wanted to avoid the labour cost on a car i'm likely only going to get £250 for.

http://www.biggles.net/download/Manual_KSeries.pdf
see if that of use to you fella.

Cheers for that. I'm probably being incredibly dim here but I can't find a bit on the alternator in that chapter, only changing the timing belt. Would it not be in the chapter on starting and charging? You wouldn't have that chapter would you? :D