proper alternator belt

[wcdeane]

I have a '91 SE, and I completely lost my alt belt on the highway the other night. I checked the new Fact File site for the part number, but I was uncertain of the number offered because I couldn't tell if it was for the V8 or the SE. And the replacement belt that I purchased the other day looks supiciously small. Can anyone offer the correct "Gates" number (or equiv.) for the alternator belt on an SE?

Thanks...Walt, 91 SE

[teigan]

gates makes the recommended belt. the european gates numbers are different from the american ones though. i buy my belts from JAE, who stock the european product. they sent me an alternator belt that didn't quite fit, although lotus says it will. i phoned JAE about the difficulty, and they rushed off a larger one the same day. can't do better than JAE for helpful service.

[Dr.Hess]

I have the belt I use in the cross reference on my web site. Fits my 89 non-SE, same as an SE. I strive to keep my cross reference list as accurate as possible.

The US belts available are just a little too big and just a little too small. The little too big one will work and that should be the one I have listed.

Dr.Hess
home.flash.net/~hess

[sanj]

I use a Goodyear Gatorback belt, part number 15351 (11AV0875). For the water pump/vacuum pump I use 15346 (11AV0865). I know they're supposed to be the same, but these seem to fit better.

[deecee]

Belts are either Metric or Standard Widths.

To put a Metric Belt on a Standard Pulley will result in it being too small or vice versa for Standard Belt on a Metric Pulley.

In addition, the Ill Fit will either result in Premature Pulley and/or Belt Wear.

Just contact Gates on their 1-800 line and they'll be able to tell you who has the right belt in your area or just give Jeff at JAE a call.

>> Edited by deecee on Thursday 2nd March 14:39

[teigan]

i agree with you in principle deecee, however, the tensioners should be able to take up any slack. it's enough to get a belt that's close to manufacturer's specs. when a car is properly engineered, the belts should go on without having to stretch, and the tensioners should do the work of getting them to final position. that isn't the case with the lotus recommended ac belt and alternator belt. if they couldn't even get that much right, i doubt they put much thought into sourcing the ideal belt. short of reengineering the car, you aren't getting the maximum pulley/belt life, even by using the official belts.

[deecee]

Especially when one belt appears to be Metric and the other to be Standard...