alternator belt cerbera 4,5

[degi]

does anybody know how to change alternator belt.

[itiejim]

Remove inlet pipes, loosen alternator, remove belt and replace.

Theory is easier than practice though unless you have 12" long double-jointed fingers...

[cerdad]

I did mine,6 hrs ,pipes off,injecter rails and injecters off,slacken the alternator and remove the belt,dont cut it as you need to work out how to get the new one in.
I found that the injector o rings needed to be replaced so get them ,they are about a £1 each from a petrol fuel injection agent .
With the new belt in lever the alternator up witha screwdriver in the fins ,if it is not tight you have to do it all over again .2nd time 25 minutes.
Good Luck

[gruffalo]

Just out of interest mine is looking old and squeeled for the first time this week, where do I get the belt from, what is the part number, any help much appreciated?

[SimonKD]

The number of mine is PJ432/170J EL as shown below. Oh and make sure any wires are cable tied well clear as some run very close to the belt.
TVR Power have them at £12.65 inc VAT and will mail one out to you



Regards
Simon

Edited by SimonKD on Thursday 19th November 07:32

[gruffalo]

Thanks Simon, much appreciated.

[Tanguero]

gruffalo said:

Just out of interest mine is looking old and squeeled for the first time this week, where do I get the belt from, what is the part number, any help much appreciated?

Check the markings of the one that is on it as there are two different lengths available. Dont ask me how I know...

[degi]

Thanks to all It was verry helpfull. Now I´ll Try to replace it.
Thanks

[SimonKD]

Tanguero said:

gruffalo said:

Just out of interest mine is looking old and squeeled for the first time this week, where do I get the belt from, what is the part number, any help much appreciated?

Check the markings of the one that is on it as there are two different lengths available. Dont ask me how I know...

Good idea as mines a 2003 model and the length may be differant on a 1998 spec.

Regards
Simon

[Mr Cerbera]

degi said:

Thanks to all It was verry helpfull. Now I´ll Try to replace it.
Thanks

Hi Degenhard

Sorry to dig your thread up

BUT

I have rreplaced my Alternator Drive Belt and now I am having problems replacing all the components.

My principle problem is the gap between the Alternator and the Throttle Bodies.
It is too small and they rub against each other.
I am worried that they will damage each other or maybe prevent a good seal.

Did you have any problems when you rebuilt your system ?

Many thanks for any advice you can give me.

Paul J

[TwinKam]

Paul, assuming you didn't have this clearance issue before, it sounds very much as though you have fitted a diffetent length belt....?
Was there enough of the old one left to either compare lengths or glean numbers from? ...ie are you 100% sure that the replacement belt is correct?
Rik

[Mr Cerbera]

TwinKam said:

Paul, assuming you didn't have this clearance issue before, it sounds very much as though you have fitted a diffetent length belt....?
Was there enough of the old one left to either compare lengths or glean numbers from? ...ie are you 100% sure that the replacement belt is correct?
Rik

Hi Rik,

Many thanks for taking time to comment on my stupiidity
Worried about the possible probs with too long a belt, I did buy the shorter one
(From the fragments of the old belt, I was pretty sure that I had the correct one)



AND
there were several marks on the inside of the old Throttle Body

BUT

Your comments highlight aspects I've been contemplating.

After replacing the Coil Packs at the last service, I had 'blow back' through the two, middle, throttle chokes and
couldn't understand why it centred on those particular ones.

Now that I am having trouble getting that area of the Throttle Body to 'sit' correctly, I am starting to think
that there has been a partial air leak in that surface for a long time.
I am probably making things up in my mind to justify this now, but I think
that the middle screws, which anchor the Throttle Body to the Cylinder Head, weren't tight enough when I removed them.

So, without further inspiration, I am preparing to grind a small amount of material off the Alternator and the TB in an
attempt to make a comfortable working gap between the two components and, therefore, properly seal the faces.

I guess only experience will show how much of an idiot I am.

Cross your fingers for me

[ukkid35]

If you are going to remove material, do so from the alternator not the throttle bodies

If anything goes wrong the alternator is easily and cheaply replaced

[TwinKam]

Before you do that!... is there any position in the arc of movement of the alternator where it is clear of the TBs? If so, this is where it needs to sit, so measure the belt length needed for it to sit there (use a cloth tape measure). Maybe it had the wrong length belt on before....
If not, then is it possible that you have the 'wrong' alternator and or mounting bracket?... possibly fitted by a previous owner. I don't know if it is slightly different on the 4.2...
If not this, I would first try to move the alternator sideways by elongating ring the holes where the mounting bracket bolts to the block.
Now all this is general talk because I don't have a 4.5 to reference and I don't know how the 4.5 alternator set up compares to my 4.2, but clearly you should not be having to take a file to the TBs!

[Mr Cerbera]

Thanks Guys - Most kind of you two

I will take it all out again and try and measure the optimum position for the Alternator.

Rik, your suggestion made me think "Aha ! perhaps the previous owner fitted a belt that was too short !"
so many thanks for making me think 'laterally'
(I will now spend the next 10K listening out for the collapse of the Alternator bearing)

---

ETA
Have done some measurements of the distance around the pulleys:
422mm = Alt in lowest position possible
441mm = Alt in highest position possible
432 = length of my new belt
457 = length of optional belt

From that, I really can't see any other option.
I will sharpen up the Grinding Wheel

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Wednesday 26th June 18:01

[ukkid35]

I have a spare 457 belt

No use to me as my car needs a 432

If anyone can make use of it let me know

[Mr Cerbera]

Just a little update....

After further investigation it transpires that a previous owner/service point fitted the wrong alternator (a physically larger one) which caused the alternator casing to rub on the TBs.

I can only imagine that said loony musta thort
"Ah yeah, when that belt's stretched a bit, I can re-tighten the TBs down"

Can't believe that BlackBeauty has performed so well for so long.

What a Car !

[TwinKam]

Great result!
So how did you deduce this? Have you been offering yours up against others and comparing sizes?

[Mr Cerbera]

TwinKam said:

Great result!
So how did you deduce this? Have you been offering yours up against others and comparing sizes?

Hi Rik,

Well, not me personally
BUT
Big Col at TVRS-SW

kindly did exactly that and sent me the names and dimensions (Matron !)) over the net
and it then became apparent what had happened.

Now That's what I call service
_______________________________________________________________________

ETA

Wish it had been as easy as this....

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Friday 28th June 17:55

[LLantrisant]

4.2L here:

my belt has snapped...how do i get the belt around the drive-uplley?