Alternator failure with happy ending

[BCDelica]

Well last night my Delica made a nasty belt squealing noise the last stretch before home. Reached up underneath this morning to find the locking bolt head was gone/broken off. Decided not to freak out and call my mechanic on a Sunday. Took the alternator out with first unbolting the oil pump; this was so much cleaner and easier then exposing all those oil hoses. Sliding the oil pump carefully to the side works very well. Too my surprise the bolt nub was able to be removed easily and I had a perfect match to use in it's place. The Russek manual instructions says to remove the whole unit together, and I did this on hers to have the alternator rewound - messy. By doing this, and only opening the 'hood' to disconnect the battery, makes alternator removal much easier.

Back running within a hour altogether; all thanks to a well built machine where those 17 year old nuts'n'bolts come'n'go the way they should.

Love it!

Best Regards,
Kevin

[jessef]

Nice job Kevin

Jesse

[The Pinkfingers]

I like those kind of stories. Have you done that before?

[snelson]

Hey guys, nice story - always like to hear about an easy fix!

This brings up a quick question I have....are all bolts, nuts, etc on a Deli always Metric sizes? I figure if they are, it would make sense to make myself up a little repair kit to keep in the Delica of different lengths/sizes of Metric bolts/nuts/washers.

Thanks guys
Steve

[jessef]

Hey guys, nice story - always like to hear about an easy fix!

This brings up a quick question I have....are all bolts, nuts, etc on a Deli always Metric sizes? I figure if they are, it would make sense to make myself up a little repair kit to keep in the Delica of different lengths/sizes of Metric bolts/nuts/washers.

Thanks guys
Steve

Yep. Always a good idea to carry a small bucket o' metric bolts.

Jesse

[BCDelica]

I like those kind of stories. Have you done that before?

Our first Delica, was pretty much like new, but didn't charge well so I took the alternator in to a little shop in town to be rewound. Along with new bushings cost $60-$70, can't remember exactly.

What's surprising is that the tensioning nut is easier to work with from underneath; always did it from above before - profanity and skinned knuckles included.

Kev

[JMK]

the tensioning nut is easier to work with from underneath

Knowing that was the conventional wisdom, I tried that last week with a socket on a wobble head extension through the wheel well. I still couldn't quite get it over the tensioner bolt head, it seemed to be just a bit too steep of an angle. In the end I couldn't quite get it to work, and went back the the knuckle skinning method after taking out that cross piece that the emergency brake is located on, using a box end rachet. THe result worked and I don't have any more squealing belts, however they are new, and they are already at the furthest end of their adjustment so at 25-7435 I must have bought too long of a belt.

[rdub]

Ratchet wrenches,Gods gift to us for when we just..cant...get..it! I had to do mine also cept the bolt wore the hole bigger and i put in a sleeve .It worked really well and no probs so fare. i did it all from the bottom,any time i can work lying down.. im in.

[BCDelica]

Even more Delica love in the form of fixing an issue - these two issues are the only failures we've had in 3 years and a mess of miles. Hers had a leaky exhaust manifold gasket and Afteroil pick up a replacement gasket from CCAuto for me. Was a typical Delica job; hard to reach nuts'n'bolts but they all spun! Even three small, 10mm, bolts holding on a heat shield that looked rusty from the heat and rounded on the head - no problem'o.

Old, stock gasket; only a thin metal ring, around each exhaust port, held in place by gasket material. One small opening created plenty of noise. looked like that metal ring moved slightly within the gasket material at the leak.

New Mitsubishi gasket from Glen for just $55; 4 layers of stainless sheet to provide the exhaust portion of the gasket. Thing looks like it'd last longer then I will.

Cheers,
Kev

[username]

wow, that sounds much better than removing the hoses and whatnot.

[Modsqwad]

Well last night my Delica made a nasty belt squealing noise the last stretch before home. Reached up underneath this morning to find the locking bolt head was gone/broken off. Decided not to freak out and call my mechanic on a Sunday. Took the alternator out with first unbolting the oil pump; this was so much cleaner and easier then exposing all those oil hoses. Sliding the oil pump carefully to the side works very well. Too my surprise the bolt nub was able to be removed easily and I had a perfect match to use in it's place. The Russek manual instructions says to remove the whole unit together, and I did this on hers to have the alternator rewound - messy. By doing this, and only opening the 'hood' to disconnect the battery, makes alternator removal much easier.

Back running within a hour altogether; all thanks to a well built machine where those 17 year old nuts'n'bolts come'n'go the way they should.

Love it!

Best Regards,
Kevin

You mentioned the "Russek Manual" Is that an aftermarket book like Chiltons or Clymers? I'd like to get something for my 91
if I could find it.Thanks.
Andy Wilson
Sayulita Nayarit Mx.

[BCDelica]

Russek is a UK, I think, repair manual brand. This Ebay link for a L300 manual looks like the same as I had but made for Mitsubishi, the cover looking similar to this L400 manual.

Actually preferred the online manuals in the download section to the Russek manual; but it was comforting to have the hardcopy for traveling.

[Modsqwad]

Russek is a UK, I think, repair manual brand. This Ebay link for a L300 manual looks like the same as I had but made for Mitsubishi, the cover looking similar to this L400 manual.

Actually preferred the online manuals in the download section to the Russek manual; but it was comforting to have the hardcopy for traveling.

Thanks, I will try looking for it. I also have a brother in law snooping around for one in Tasmania. I would love to get a set of dealer
shop manuals and he seems to think he can deliver. Quein Sabe!
Andy Wilson