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Stretchy Alternator belts - a rant

  • 17-08-2015 09:36PM
    #1
    Slideways
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭


    I've been a VW fanboi for years and my current chariot is a 2008 MKV Gti.

    I'm back in Ireland for a visit and was given the loan (which I'm very grateful for I might add) of a 2011 1.6tdi Caddy.

    It decided to flitter the alt belt an hour out of Galway. It only runs the alternator so I carried on to Galway. Neither OTTO or VW had the correct part so I ended up making do with a standard belt and removing the bottom bolt from the alternator and wedging it in position to get me back to Sligo where the local Veedub agent had a belt in stock including the tool to fit it that comes free.

    What a fùcking mission to get that bastarding thing on. Hans want a boot in the balls for that design. I remember the MK3 had a spring under the alt and a toothed bolt set up to tighten the belt, it's bloody backwards they are going!!
    /rant over


Comments

  • #2
    Special Circumstances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,540 ✭✭✭Special Circumstances


    Haynes "you can fabricate your own special tool as in fig 12.17" job was it??? Hat-tip to whoever posted the link to the Haynes book of lies explainer earlier :-)


  • #3
    Slideways
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭Slideways


    I was scratching my head on the side of the road trying to figure out how the belt was adjusted.

    Once I got my hands on the genuine part it confirmed my thoughts. It comes with a wee aluminium tool to put the belt on but it's a prick of a yolk really


  • #4
    blackbox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,759 ✭✭✭blackbox


    When you are talking to Hans, would you mind also having a word with Luigi who designed the cam belt for an Alfa 166!


  • #5
    George Dalton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    If you think the Caddy was bad try the double stretch belt setup on the A/C equipped Mk2 Focus 1.4/1.6 petrol :pac:


  • #6
    porsche boy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭porsche boy


    Yea stretch belts have been the curse of many a mechanic. They are ****ty

    Was the mk1 focus the first car to have them or was there earlier examples from the nines?


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  • #7
    enumbers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 550 ✭✭✭enumbers


    George Dalton wrote: »
    If you think the Caddy was bad try the double stretch belt setup on the A/C equipped Mk2 Focus 1.4/1.6 petrol :pac:

    even worse when the parts lads give you the wrong lenght belt and you dont know, lots of sweating and cursing, dont mind them at this stage but the first few were proper pigs to do. focus it the first one I seen them on.


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