jennydefender90 Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 someone please help! I have fitted a new alternator and it is shredding belts like no ones business, we have changed the water pump, made sure tensions right... all we can think is it the back bolt on the alternator has stripped its thread and cannot take out or tighten for love or money, would this cause this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 What engine? Is this old-style V-belt or polyvee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Welcome to the forum As a starter you need to repair the stripped bolt, because that will not tighten it may be allowing the alternator to flex, thus putting the alternator out of alignment and causing strain on the belt. To repair the stripped thread, drill through oversize and put a nut and bolt in if possible Keep us posted please Regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Photos always help, how is it shredding the belt? Is it tearing the rubber part out or literally tearing it into strands. How good is the alignment between the pulleys is one noticeably offset. Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydefender90 Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 Sorry completely new to this all, here are the pictures of the belt stripped as it went this morning and the bolt from the back etc, I’m wondering weather somethings melting it looking at the top pulley on the water pump?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydefender90 Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Do the alternator and water pump spin freely without the belt on, it looks like the belt has got really hot. If they do spin freely I'd suggest replacing the pulleys. As an absolute minimum the pulleys need a close inspection and clean up. Mike 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Yep that's been very hot, hard to see the inside of the alternator pulley, but it looks clean when photo expanded, looks like water pump is failing probably not moving freely as Mike said, probably why rubber has filled pulley up as it will be the point of highest friction therefore the hottest point Regards Stephen 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Sparkes Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Two points spring to mind; That mass of melted rubber in the Vee of the pulley MUST be mechanically cleaned out before another belt is fitted. The bolt that passes through the slotted adjustment link MUST have a large diameter thick flat washer between the bolt head and the slotted link. Without it the bolt head does not have enough clamping power to ensure the bolt doesn't slide along the link, loosening the belt, which will then slip, allowing the belt to overheat and melt. I also agree that it looks as if the water pump is seized, so the belt has to slide over the pulley. This should have produced a terrible screeching noise before the belt failed. Regards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydefender90 Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 that’s confusing then as the water pump is brand new, literally last week as it had a bit of a wobble so thought it might have been that. We’ve managed to get the stripped bolt out and secure a new one on the bottom bracket. Possibly the pulley? That’s the ONLY thing left we haven’t changed which brings me to my next challenge of the one that fits my alternator has apparently been discontinued and need to find an alternative….RTC5686. I can drive to wales and no problems then go on a journey no more than 2 miles down the road and it goes! 😔😔😔 damsel in max distress! 😂 also is it worth mentioning that I think the fan has been snagging on the shroud so possibly not spinning at all/to it’s full potential? Could this cause it to overheat?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 2 hours ago, jennydefender90 said: also is it worth mentioning that I think the fan has been snagging on the shroud so possibly not spinning at all/to it’s full potential? Could this cause it to overheat?! This would not help as the fan is connected mechanically to the water pump pulley, so yes that could cause major issues. What brand is the water pump? Looking at your location if you need urgent help try https://www.facebook.com/groups/shirelrc/ there's loads of folks very close to you who I'm sure could offer a hand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Sparkes Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 2 hours ago, jennydefender90 said: also is it worth mentioning that I think the fan has been snagging on the shroud so possibly not spinning at all/to it’s full potential? Could this cause it to overheat?! 45 minutes ago, FridgeFreezer said: This would not help as the fan is connected mechanically to the water pump pulley, so yes that could cause major issues. .... From the pictures, it seems to me that the fan is viscous coupled, whilst a snagging (slow moving) fan wouldn't help the cooling I think the VC will slip well before the pulley started to slip enough to melt the belt. Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Have you tried turning them by hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebus Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 What engine is it? Those bolts on the water pump don't look like they've been moved in months but like an above post says that's got more than hot to do that, did you not hear it in anyway to give you an idea of the issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 3 hours ago, jennydefender90 said: Possibly the pulley? That’s the ONLY thing left we haven’t changed which brings me to my next challenge of the one that fits my alternator has apparently been discontinued and need to find an alternative….RTC5686. seems to be plenty of these available through the usual outlets, not cheap mind you but available regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydefender90 Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 3 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: This would not help as the fan is connected mechanically to the water pump pulley, so yes that could cause major issues. What brand is the water pump? Looking at your location if you need urgent help try https://www.facebook.com/groups/shirelrc/ there's loads of folks very close to you who I'm sure could offer a hand. Thanks, it’s a britpart water pump that was fitted literally other week, it was snagging belts before that was changed so can’t see that being the issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 New does not necessarily mean good. Unfortunately, Britpart almost always means bad. Avoid Britpart wherever an alternative exists - most of their parts are fit only for the scrap bin and I (and many others) consider their steering and brake parts lethal - never, under any circumstance, use Britpart brake components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Daft question, have you used the right bolts in the water pump pulley as to long and they can lock the pulley up. Mike P.S. if you get really stuck I'm not a million miles from you so pm me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 12 hours ago, jennydefender90 said: it’s a britpart water pump that was fitted literally other week That could well be its useful service life, I've had Britpart stuff last shorter periods than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 I'd start by making sure the fan isn't snagging and everything is turning freely as mentioned above. Even with a working viscous, a stuck fan will put a lot of strain on the water pump, and could be the cause of both the previous failure and the slipping belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigi_H Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Seems to be a 200 Tdi for your interest: https://www-explorermagazin-de.translate.goog/bauberi/keilum21.htm?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 Isnt there a spacer somewhere on the slotted tensioner arm on a 200tdi alternator? If there was and it was missing would malalignment cause this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 Spacer between engine timing case & lower end of the alternator adjuster link, IIRC the spacer is 45mm long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 1 hour ago, western said: Spacer between engine timing case & lower end of the alternator adjuster link, IIRC the spacer is 45mm long. I thought you would know. OP check its there. Without it, it couldbe enough to cause poor pulley alignment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 On 4/28/2023 at 8:20 PM, jennydefender90 said: that’s confusing then as the water pump is brand new, literally last week as it had a bit of a wobble so thought it might have been that. We’ve managed to get the stripped bolt out and secure a new one on the bottom bracket. Possibly the pulley? That’s the ONLY thing left we haven’t changed which brings me to my next challenge of the one that fits my alternator has apparently been discontinued and need to find an alternative….RTC5686. I can drive to wales and no problems then go on a journey no more than 2 miles down the road and it goes! 😔😔😔 damsel in max distress! 😂 also is it worth mentioning that I think the fan has been snagging on the shroud so possibly not spinning at all/to it’s full potential? Could this cause it to overheat?! Judging by the photos, I’d say that while the rear bolt on the alternator isn’t going to help and should be rectified as a matter of urgency before it shears and allows the alternator (and it’s wiring) to flail, the belt problem appears to me to be due to the water pump pulley, as that is where all the melting appears to be. Considering the new water pump of very dubious quality and a fan that is impinging on the shroud (why? The parts should be well clear of each other) and you have several issues pointing at the same cause. The fan impingement could well add drag through the viscous hub, even if cool and in good condition, causing the belt to slip on the pulley. Bad bearings or bad alignment of the impeller inside the pump casing could also do the same. Unless you have a mix and match vehicle with parts of inconsistent specification together, then the fan should be well centred in the shroud. If the shroud, engine and fan are from the same spec vehicle, then it suggests that either the engine mountings have collapsed, the radiator has shifted or the water pump axis is off, in which case the impeller could be fouling the inside of the pump housing, probably on the timing case side. You don’t want to have to shell out for a new one of those, so you need to remove and inspect the pump and check the back of the housing in the timing cover for signs of impeller contact. The problems caused by a badly made or incorrect pump could be much more than shredding belts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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