Why I dislike noobs working on vehicles I end up owning

Rattlenbang · Post by **Rattlenbang** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:03 pm

I bought this van with a screeching belt problem. No problem, just tighten it up. A bit of mucking about and I discover it's the alternator belts. I know the PO had an alternator put in, but I thought he said a shop did it. No way, unless it was the shop from hell. First of all, turns out they deleted the belt tightening mechanism. I tried prying the alternator over and tightening the clamp nut. That fix lasted a day. Digging further, I find the nut on the pivot bolt on the alternator is stripped. Why? because the bolt is extending out only about 1 mm and the nut can't really grab it. Why? Because there is a bush on the alternator that's the wrong size, and so the pivot bolt is too short. While I'm under there, I also notice oil is leaking from the joint between the vacuum pump and the alternator. So that bad boy has to come all the way out.

Once the alternator has been removed, I cut the bush off short so the pivot bolt will fit.

That bush was an inch too long

With the pump off, I find that when they replaced the alternator, they forgot to install the O-ring between the two components, resulting in the oil leak.

Look ma, no O-ring!

By the time I got all this done it took me about 5 hours of mucking about because someone did an appalling job the first time around. If you don't know what you are doing, please leave it to someone who does.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:56 am

Everyone starts somewhere.
Firesong

Mr. Flibble · Post by **Mr. Flibble** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:33 pm

This is also how you come by them at a discount.

bionic · Post by **bionic** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:29 pm

..always interesting that some working on their stuff refer to any other person who previously worked on said part as the "unknowledgeable" one. We all miss something eventually, we should just hope its not catastophic, and preferably not witnessed by anyone else...having said that, it doesn't make it less frustrating doing unnecessary repairs. To all those who have previously purchased my old vehicles...Happy New Year!!! (and I'm really, really sorry.....)

Rattlenbang · Post by **Rattlenbang** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:59 pm

Fair enough, and we've all pulled a boner, though I'd never pass on one of mine to another owner. It wouldn't have been so bad but it's a PITA getting into this area; driver's seat has to come out, floor panel removed, and even then hardly any room to work on the thing. I was really hoping I could get the belts tightened enough with a prybar, but without the tensioner holding it in place it slowly creeps back. So in there yet again to install an alternator belt tensioner. Hope I can get something like that from Malahat.

bionic · Post by **bionic** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 10:28 pm

As shade tree as it sounds, you could attach a firm spring from the alt body to the frame rail leaving the bolt snug, but not tight until you get the bracket;). This will temporarly work in an l300

Post by **nxski** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:44 am

Rattlenbang wrote:Fair enough, and we've all pulled a boner, though I'd never pass on one of mine to another owner. It wouldn't have been so bad but it's a PITA getting into this area; driver's seat has to come out, floor panel removed, and even then hardly any room to work on the thing. I was really hoping I could get the belts tightened enough with a prybar, but without the tensioner holding it in place it slowly creeps back. So in there yet again to install an alternator belt tensioner. Hope I can get something like that from Malahat.

I didn't have to remove the driver seat or floor panel.

bionic · Post by **bionic** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:48 am

nxski wrote:
Rattlenbang wrote:Fair enough, and we've all pulled a boner, though I'd never pass on one of mine to another owner. It wouldn't have been so bad but it's a PITA getting into this area; driver's seat has to come out, floor panel removed, and even then hardly any room to work on the thing. I was really hoping I could get the belts tightened enough with a prybar, but without the tensioner holding it in place it slowly creeps back. So in there yet again to install an alternator belt tensioner. Hope I can get something like that from Malahat.
I didn't have to remove the driver seat or floor panel.

I agree. Simply remove the front lower dust cover, (2 x 14mm bolts/ 4 x 12mm bolts)and get the truck up on some relatively high ramps. I also removed the scoop top air deflector for some added room. Removed the fan shroud to help access the alternator lower mounting bolt with my ratchet. The only hard part was manouvering around the lower rad hose...total time 1-1.5 hrs. I left the oil side of the alt intact.

Rattlenbang · Post by **Rattlenbang** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:45 am

Reaching into there through the fan area was a real pain. You could just reach the upper clamp bolt, but no room to heave on the alternator with a pry bar to try and tighten the belts. My buddy underneath couldn't get a good purchase from below. Not sure what folks are referring to with lower dust cover, scoop etc. but 6 bolts that way, or 8 bolts going up top, I generally preferring working downwards than lying on my back in the driveway. Only takes 5-6 minutes to pull seat and floor panel to open that area up (don't have to remove fuel or parking brake cables).

bionic · Post by **bionic** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:46 am

I didn't have to pry on anything with mine... The alternator dropped out towards the frame rail, then simply pulled it out from the side. The cover is the pan that protects the steering assembly and cv from road debris. It's what's in the way to access the front diff.

Rattlenbang · Post by **Rattlenbang** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:52 am

bionic wrote:I didn't have to pry on anything with mine... The alternator dropped out towards the frame rail, then simply pulled it out from the side. The cover is the pan that protects the steering assembly and cv from road debris. It's what's in the way to access the front diff.

You didn't have to pry because you didn't have a noob that forgot to put the tensioner back in

I've got a call in to Malahat to see if they can supply me one. If not, I'll have to fab something up. With the drag of the vacuum pump and trying to stretch two belts, you just can't get enough tension without the tensioner.

yojimbo · Post by **yojimbo** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 4:45 pm

There is no excuse for that, it is, as we say here, a bodge. If memory serves the adjuster is an m8 bolt, which goes through the clamp and attaches to a U bracket on the far side, if you still have the bracket, an M8 bolt of the right length should sort you. If not, find someone breaking a van? Also, when fitting belts, if new, fit, run the engine, leave it overnight to allow stretch, and retighten. This saves retightening a week later as one is longer than the other or whatever.

Rattlenbang · Post by **Rattlenbang** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:50 pm

It's all good. I was able to get an adjuster from Malahat parts, as well as a new AC idler (missing), a coolant reservoir (missing), a back-up mirror (missing), a very good front carpet (rotten), and a complete window curtain set (also missing). Amazing how many parts fall off these vehicles over the years

thedjjack · Post by **thedjjack** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:59 pm

timing belt/ balance belt and tensioners????

mararmeisto · Post by **mararmeisto** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:29 pm

You should stop buying vehicles that were previously owned - then you wouldn't have this frustration.

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