Bl**dy Pain in the Ar*e

[jeffgleed]

I am just so naffed off at the moment. I had a new fan belt fitted on Friday and it's ruddy well fallen off!!! How is this possible? The old one had been fine for ages and was starting to slip a bit. Wish I hadn't bothered now. To compound the problem I cannot get another one anywhere in Bristol (it's a rubbish city for buying anything out of the ordinary). I can't order one by phone cos nobody has TVR listed and the part changed virtually with every car and I can't get the car to a dealer without the fan belt cos it will break down! Looks like a stupid thing is going to render the car unusable for a considerable period of time ... god a hate British engineering

[UpTheIron]

Have you tried Andy @ Hamilton Cars in Bristol?

[yum]

why not speak to an independent, quote the chassis number and get them to send you one. there are not infinite varieties.

Sounds like whoever just fitted yours had goofed - i'd get them to sort it out.

Oh yes, and I know it's too late and isn't helpful just at the moment, but I would buy an extra one and keep it in the boot.

R

[GreenV8S]

quote:I am just so naffed off at the moment. I had a new fan belt fitted on Friday and it's ruddy well fallen off!!! How is this possible? The old one had been fine for ages and was starting to slip a bit. Wish I hadn't bothered now. To compound the problem I cannot get another one anywhere in Bristol (it's a rubbish city for buying anything out of the ordinary). I can't order one by phone cos nobody has TVR listed and the part changed virtually with every car and I can't get the car to a dealer without the fan belt cos it will break down! Looks like a stupid thing is going to render the car unusable for a considerable period of time ... god a hate British engineering

I had all sorts of trouble finding the right fanbelt for the V8S, its a funny length. Even after I matched the length it was slightly too wide for the pulleys and fell off every few miles, maybe that's what is happening with yours? None of the normal motor factors round Hemel were any help, but I did eventually get referred to a specialist who found an exact match. If you look around your area you may find a similar specialist.

It may be possible to drive the car if you keep the fanbelt tension up, and are prepared to stop and replace it every time it falls off. If your is pre-serpentine, your other option is to fit one of those emergency temporary belts, the ones that you ave to cut to length. It should stay on OK but will probably wear out before long - but maybe enough to get you back to the dealer?

[Nacnud]

There is a list of dealers and independents on the Bristol Region website at http://go.to/tvrbristol - try giving a few of them a call.

Also - Bristol Region meet tomorrow at the Golden Heart (12:30, details on the website). If you head on down there, I'm sure they will happily tell you what's what for TVR workshops/parts in the Bristol area.

[350matt]

I take it you don't have the old one still? as most belts have the length written on them somewhere and there are only a couple of std widths so it wouldn't be that hard to find a Halfords replacement if you know how long. Alternativly you could use one of the 'get you home' belts to come up with a correct length.
Matt

[jeffgleed]

Cheers for all the help. I do have the one that fell off (it was pretty mangled though). Unfortunately most of the shops had no idea what the significance of the numbers were and couldn't find them without a part number from their little book anyway! I did eventually find one shop which could help but they didn't have the same length so I got a slightly longer one and took it up on the adjustment. It seems fine now although I will have to keep an eye on it for a few days. Sorry to rant on but I was so annoyed that something so stupid could render the car unusable for the only sunny bit of March so far.