Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

So, after driving up the Malahat and down into Duncan, this fell out onto the road. Anyone know where it goes? I didn't hear any clunking or rattling before it happen (i.e. something else fell off before this), but there was some rattlin' before this dropped out. I was watching in the rearview mirror when it touched down.

Symptoms which started to manifest after this departed were an increase in water temp and a belt squeal. I think it might be the bolt for the belt tensioner to the alternator/water pump, but I haven't looked yet. Was more concerned about getting everyone back home before the bears got us...

looks like a tensioner bolt.

It does look like what I just pulled out when removing the alternator. Is the other bolt still present? Others will chip in, but I'm locking in your answer, a) alternator tensioner thingy.
Hope you have a great weekend in the sunny outdoors.

Good job you were able to recover it. The master link dropped out of the chain on my KLR today half way to Puerto Vallarta and I had
to make do with bailing wire and a rock! I hope the pinch bolt in not broken off in your alternator. Buen Suerte.
Andy Wilson
PS While I was working on the bike 4 different people stopped on a bad section of road to ask if I needed help. I love Mexicans!

mararmeisto wrote:So, after driving up the Malahat and down into Duncan, this fell out onto the road. Anyone know where it goes? I didn't hear any clunking or rattling before it happen (i.e. something else fell off before this), but there was some rattlin' before this dropped out. I was watching in the rearview mirror when it touched down.

Symptoms which started to manifest after this departed were an increase in water temp and a belt squeal. I think it might be the bolt for the belt tensioner to the alternator/water pump, but I haven't looked yet. Was more concerned about getting everyone back home before the bears got us...

I had the exact same problem, my tensor bolt sheered off and the belt stopped turning my water pump. I drove home very slowly. Found the sheered off bolt rattling around my skid plate and replaced it. I was amazed the bolt was still there after driving so far.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll drive back up to my dad's this week (gotta drop of the rental anyway), crawl under and take a look. Now... where did I leave my Russek manual?

that is 100% for sure from the alternator attachment assembly. its the bolt thats easily reached from the wheel well. you might have to remove a plastic cover to get in there. the bolt that hold the alternator tense, at the top, goes through the hole in the cube thing

after oil wrote:that is 100% for sure from the alternator attachment assembly. its the bolt thats easily reached from the wheel well. you might have to remove a plastic cover to get in there. the bolt that hold the alternator tense, at the top, goes through the hole in the cube thing

What size is the bolt? How long? I'm assuming it's metric.

mararmeisto wrote:

after oil wrote:that is 100% for sure from the alternator attachment assembly. its the bolt thats easily reached from the wheel well. you might have to remove a plastic cover to get in there. the bolt that hold the alternator tense, at the top, goes through the hole in the cube thing

What size is the bolt? How long? I'm assuming it's metric.

ooh now youre really testing me. im pretty sure its a 12mm, but maybe a 14mm and about 4cm long. thats just from memory having swapped an alt last week. of course ccglen could tell you for sure.
inthe meantime make sure your batt is charging...

So, once again, thank you to everyone who chipped in with their thoughts and confirmations. It definitely was the alternator tensioner bolt, and while it was okay, the little bolt that holds it in place (through the little block with the bolt-hole), well, it had snapped off or worked itself out. Whatever. Can't quite remember what John said it did.

Bolt gone - alternator belt loose - water pump belt loose - both worn, so this has probably been a while in the making.

Right after the bolt went POP and fell out onto the road, water temp spiked (but we pulled over right away, so no engine damage from that). After I stopped, started van up again just to see/hear what I could, belt squeal, immediately shut off engine. Underneath, difficult to see what's going on because I have the bash plate under the suspension arms (I can't look directly up into my 'belt-area'.

Where did I go, and who did the repairs? John and his crew at E4 Auto Repairs (just outside Duncan), also known as RaddCruisers (bought them out a couple years ago). Great bunch of guys, working on nothing but JDMs, very familiar with the Delicas. He even pointed out a couple of the things Glen and the boys at CCAutos had done when the vehicle was imported and serviced. Spot on! After the repairs, John even identified what was coming due, so I've got a list for next time I've got some spare change laying about the coffee table, begging to be poured into the van.

So, bolt replaced, belts replaced, couple of other things done that I'd asked for separately (preventative, not corrective), and I'm back on the road down to Victoria. Van's running great, water temp is now back down around one-third scale reading (I suspect that bolt was falling out for a while, what with the temp higher than usual and the belts being worn like he indicated) and it never even climbed above half while I was humping it up the Malahat. Price was good too, couldn't complain about that in the least. All-in-all, I'm happy, got my van back, found a place just a bit closer to home for those things I can't do/don't want to do myself, and now we're ready for next week's camping trip.