Water pump belt

[elbee]

I need some advice please peeps, I changed the oil and filter today and I removed the engine covers for ease of access. I noticed when I was underneath that one of the three belts near the alternator was loose there seemed to be too much play in the largest belt that goes around the water pump, I noticed that there is a pulley at the top but this seemed to be fully adjusted (clockwise) could the belt have stretched that much or maybe the previous owner fitted the wrong belt. Any advice on how to change it?

[Northern Bongolow]

which bongo engine you got mate.

diesel-- http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... mgno=.html

[elbee]

It's the 2.5td aft I think it's the belt part number 18-381k but the pulley screw is fully down fully clockwise and the belt is very slack. I t says it's the aircon belt ? Is this right?

[Muzorewa]

18-381K is the aircon belt, it should go over the crank pulley, the air-con compressor and the tensioner pulley. It would be the first belt to take off if you were changing all the belts.

18-381C is the 'fanbelt' and there should be two of them, going over the crank pulley, the waterpump and the alternator. The position of the alternator dictates the tension in these belts. You can't change these belts without removing the aircon belt first.

Easiest to check all these from under the passenger seat

[elbee]

Thanks muzorewa, in that case it is the aircon belt that is loose but the other two alternator belts seem in good condition and correctly tensioned so I'll just order up an aircon belt.

[Simon Jones]

Have you tried adjusting the air con belt tensioner (as opposed to the adjustor that moves the alternator)? You have to loosen the bug nut in the centre of the idler pulley if I recall correctly. If you are going to replace one belt, it would be worth replacing the other two at the same time for piece of mind if you don't know when they were last changed. I've heard a few horror stories with other vehicles where one belt snaps which then gets tangled around the pulley & then wipes out the others. This would leave you with no water pump circulation which could lead to overheating.

[elbee]

Yes Simon I've tried to adjust the aircon wheel but it's at the end of its travel, it looks like the belt is too large as I cannot believe it's stretched that much, all belts look new I think they have fitted the wrong aircon belt, picked up a replacement today so hope to fit it Sunday.

[dave_aber]

The new ones should be so tight to get on you will think you have been sold the wrong belts.

With the adjuster set to the slackest position, you can just get the belt started on the last pulley, but you'll struggle to get it fully on with your fingers. Get it nearly on, then blip the engine round on the key (don't start it!). Repeat for moving the 1st waterpump belt to the 2nd position, and again to get the 2nd waterpump belt on, and again to get the 3rd belt on.

Once they are on, you do have to adjust up the slack quite a bit - it's just the initial getting them on that's really tight.

If I remember right - you have to fit the 2 waterpump / alternator belts first, but leave them slack. Then fit the Aircon belt, and do up the tension. Then finally adjust the alternator to tension the first 2 belts. If you tension these up first, you can't (easily) get a socket on the aircon belt tensioner bolt.

[elbee]

Great advice guys many thanks to all here