Vx chewing out fan belts.

[Mocka_VX_clubby]

I have recently replaced alternator 2 weeks prior to first belt being chewed out. Now 5 weeks later this new belt is about to snap. Car also has a power steering leak but can't see what could be causing this. I have never encountered this before. Any ideas?

 

[_R_J_K_]

On of your pulleys is probably misaligned or bent.

 

[Mocka_VX_clubby]

So the alternator would probably be the money shot?

 

[Tasmaniak]

who knows mate.... looks a little more like it's rubbing against the block or something similar. you're going to need inspect it. I probably would've said tensioner through experience.

 

[F l a k]

Take the belt off, spin each pulley one at a time by hand. They should all spin smoothly and freely with no noise. The alternator and waterpump will have a little drag, but the idlers should freespin easy. None should wobble of be able to be moved up and down. If any are suss or physically damaged, replace them with aftermarket metal ones. Cost bugger all. Use good quality pulleys and belt, and check that when the belt is fitted that it is in the operating tension as indicated on the tensioner housing at the front.

 

[F l a k]

Also, make sure there's no hose clamps or plastic covers, anything like that, touching the belt. Make sure it's the right belt for the car, and inspect the balancer rubber dampener, as in, is the balancer still in one piece and not wobbling out of shape.

 

[Mocka_VX_clubby]

Ok. The tensioner flexes under revs. But it seams straight and the actually pulley spins freely. Just strange that the problem only started when the second hand alternator was fitted. Would it make a difference being from a vt?

 

[Mocka_VX_clubby]

All pullys spin fine. Balancer is fine and nothing seams to be runbbing

 

[F l a k]

As far as I know, all Ecotec alternators are basically the same. Are all the pulleys in a line, like if you look across the motor, with the belt on, engine off, the belt isn't being pulled back to the block somewhere?

 

[oska]

He's got the belt on wrong

i bet it's under the pulley instead of over it, it's a simple mistake