Ga73 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 Hi all, My car is a 1999 Seat Alhambra 1.9tdi (110 bhp version). Had a problem which i thought was an electrical problem and replaced the starter but cutting a long story very short it wasnt the starter motor it seems the problem is the fan belt has too much tension which stops the engine turning over and causing the alternator to smoke....if you remove the fan belt it starts first time all the time but of course this doesnt really help. Does anyone know how to slacken the tension off the fan belt, ive undone the bolts holding the tensioning bar (2 hex bolts) but it seems to be automatic tensioning so is there no way to adjust this?? Only had the Albhamra for a week and already needs repairing :P Quote
Mirez Posted April 29, 2009 Report Posted April 29, 2009 Hi all, My car is a 1999 Seat Alhambra 1.9tdi (110 bhp version). Had a problem which i thought was an electrical problem and replaced the starter but cutting a long story very short it wasnt the starter motor it seems the problem is the fan belt has too much tension which stops the engine turning over and causing the alternator to smoke....if you remove the fan belt it starts first time all the time but of course this doesnt really help. Does anyone know how to slacken the tension off the fan belt, ive undone the bolts holding the tensioning bar (2 hex bolts) but it seems to be automatic tensioning so is there no way to adjust this?? Only had the Albhamra for a week and already needs repairing :P The belt is indeed automatic ternsioning but tensioners are very crude devices, simply a large spring and pulley. When they fail you either get no tension as the spring snaps or a lack of tension as the spring weakens over time. Its therefore highly unlikely to be excess tension on the belt - far more likely worn bearings in the alternator causing it to seize or stick. Quote
Ga73 Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Posted April 30, 2009 Hi all, My car is a 1999 Seat Alhambra 1.9tdi (110 bhp version). Had a problem which i thought was an electrical problem and replaced the starter but cutting a long story very short it wasnt the starter motor it seems the problem is the fan belt has too much tension which stops the engine turning over and causing the alternator to smoke....if you remove the fan belt it starts first time all the time but of course this doesnt really help. Does anyone know how to slacken the tension off the fan belt, ive undone the bolts holding the tensioning bar (2 hex bolts) but it seems to be automatic tensioning so is there no way to adjust this?? Only had the Albhamra for a week and already needs repairing :) The belt is indeed automatic ternsioning but tensioners are very crude devices, simply a large spring and pulley. When they fail you either get no tension as the spring snaps or a lack of tension as the spring weakens over time. Its therefore highly unlikely to be excess tension on the belt - far more likely worn bearings in the alternator causing it to seize or stick. Thanks for that, being more eager than mechanic (although a friend of mine is a decent mechanic) is it a diy job to replace the bearings in the alternator if need be ? Cheers Gary Quote
mikej Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 (edited) QUOTE is it a diy job to replace the bearings in the alternator if need be ? Sorry to butt in but it would be easier to replace the alternator, bearings are pressed into the casting as well as being fitted to the rotor, not really a job for DIY unless you have the relevent bearings and presses etc. What is the manufactures name on the alternator and what is the part number ,should be on a sticker placed on the black cap ? :) Edited April 30, 2009 by mikej Quote
roy202 Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 Hi all, My car is a 1999 Seat Alhambra 1.9tdi (110 bhp version). Had a problem which i thought was an electrical problem and replaced the starter but cutting a long story very short it wasnt the starter motor it seems the problem is the fan belt has too much tension which stops the engine turning over and causing the alternator to smoke....if you remove the fan belt it starts first time all the time but of course this doesnt really help. Does anyone know how to slacken the tension off the fan belt, ive undone the bolts holding the tensioning bar (2 hex bolts) but it seems to be automatic tensioning so is there no way to adjust this?? Only had the Albhamra for a week and already needs repairing :) The belt is indeed automatic ternsioning but tensioners are very crude devices, simply a large spring and pulley. When they fail you either get no tension as the spring snaps or a lack of tension as the spring weakens over time. Its therefore highly unlikely to be excess tension on the belt - far more likely worn bearings in the alternator causing it to seize or stick.remove the fan belt and spin the pulleys , the only one that wont move is the one on the crank, the rest should be free, if you having the smoke come from the alternator pulley it sounds like you need a new alternator, not just replacing the bearings. Quote
Mirez Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 (edited) remove the fan belt and spin the pulleys , the only one that wont move is the one on the crank, the rest should be free, if you having the smoke come from the alternator pulley it sounds like you need a new alternator, not just replacing the bearings. As above and to clarify, I wasn't suggesting you replace the internal bearings of the alternator - just giving a likely breakdown of the fault. Changing the alternator shouldn't be that tricky - time consuming and a little fiddly but certainly a DIY job. Edited April 30, 2009 by Mirez Quote
Ga73 Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Posted April 30, 2009 remove the fan belt and spin the pulleys , the only one that wont move is the one on the crank, the rest should be free, if you having the smoke come from the alternator pulley it sounds like you need a new alternator, not just replacing the bearings. Hi, Thanks for your help, ive removed the fan belt, looking down at the engine, the alternator spins freely, the pully directly beneath doesnt (the car has air con, is this for the compressor?) and neither does the one into the block which is the crank pulley, right ? Anyone know if its possible to free the pulley beneath the alternator pulley, if you know what i mean !! Ive got the day off tomorrow and a mate coming round so any help asap would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED !! Gary Quote
gregers Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 could be barking up the wrong tree here but it could be a siezed compressor???? Quote
Ga73 Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Posted May 4, 2009 Just to say a big thanks to Mirez, Roy and Gregers for pointing me in the right direction and getting my car back on the road, it turned out to be a siezed a/c compressor pulley, after fitting a compressor from a golf it now starts first time and with no (touch wood!) problems. Thanks again all !! Gary Quote
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