The article describes in great detail why the generator drive is stretched and why it cannot be tightened or loosened strongly. It also provides a step-by-step procedure for changing the belt and adjusting it.
How the alternator drive belt is tensioned determines how parts in the engine work, such as the water pump, crankshaft bearing, and tensioner pulley. If the belt is loosened, it will not generate a certain amount of amperage to recharge the battery. And if the belt is tightened more, the generator may break. It is recommended to change the generator drive belt every 15 thousand kilometers, or when there are cracks, rubber delamination and tears on the belt. All procedures were carried out on a VAZ 2110 car; on other brands, do everything the same way.
- Also read about the camshaft drive belt.
Checking the tension of the alternator drive belt:
- It is important that when checking the belt, the car is not started.
- It is more convenient to work with the alternator drive belt under the car. Therefore, the front of the car must be lifted with a jack and the engine crankcase protection removed.
- After that, you should press the belt up by hand in the center between the crankshaft and the generator pulleys, and the force should be about 10 kgf. Using a ruler, we measure the amount of deflection, which should be no more than 10-15 millimeters.
Tension adjustment
If the amount of deflection does not correspond to the figures, then the alternator drive belt must be adjusted. For this you need:
- Loosen the nuts on the lower and upper mounting of the generator.
- To tension the belt, remove the generator from the cylinder block and turn the bolt clockwise. Having installed the key on the pulley mounting bolt, it is necessary to rotate the shaft two times clockwise. Then check the belt tension.
- In order for the belt to loosen, it is necessary to bring the generator (detailed diagram of the generator) to the cylinder block and turn the bolt counterclockwise and make a check.
- Tighten both bolts on the generator mounting.
The tension or loosening of the generator drive belt should be approached very competently, since with a high tension on the belt, tension roller and generator bearings, increased loads will be produced, which will affect their rapid breakdown. And if the tension is not enough, then the belt will slip on the pulleys, which has a bad effect on battery charging.
Replacing the alternator drive belt
If the belt cannot be repaired, then it should be replaced. To do this, you need to do the following:
- Loosen the bolt on the upper and lower mounting of the generator, and unscrew the adjusting bolt as much as possible.
- Move the generator as close to the cylinder block as possible.
- Remove the loosened belt from the alternator pulley and the crankshaft.
- The new belt must first be put on the pulley in the crankshaft, and then on the pulley in the generator. If the belt is worn with a tension, then the crankshaft should be turned slowly until the belt is put on.
- Tighten the bolts from below and from above on the generator mount.
- Check the belt tension.
WHA
