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[Bo Bo]

This aux belt we fitted, as an autovaux one.. and to be honest, as remarked at the time of fitting, it did feel like it was putting a tad too much strain on the tensioner.

Before you go ahead and replace, may be worth thinking about the belt...

Maybe this could be my problem too, mine was from there & we thought it was a bit tight after fitting....

[JamesV6CDX]

This aux belt we fitted, as an autovaux one.. and to be honest, as remarked at the time of fitting, it did feel like it was putting a tad too much strain on the tensioner.

Before you go ahead and replace, may be worth thinking about the belt...

Maybe this could be my problem too, mine was from there & we thought it was a bit tight after fitting....

I've actually had this same problem with lots of V6 aux belts from Autovaux

One actually wouldn't even go on my 2.5, even though it was supposedly the right belt..

I think they put too much strain on the tensioners..

Recommend changing for genuine GM belt first off if there are issues..

[Bo Bo]

This aux belt we fitted, as an autovaux one.. and to be honest, as remarked at the time of fitting, it did feel like it was putting a tad too much strain on the tensioner.

Before you go ahead and replace, may be worth thinking about the belt...

Maybe this could be my problem too, mine was from there & we thought it was a bit tight after fitting....

I've actually had this same problem with lots of V6 aux belts from Autovaux

One actually wouldn't even go on my 2.5, even though it was supposedly the right belt..

I think they put too much strain on the tensioners..

Recommend changing for genuine GM belt first off if there are issues..

Will do, but hold onto that tensioner for me just in case  

[Damonsal]

Thats very interesting..
I installed an Aux belt from Autovaux at the weekend and it was very tight fitting too - hardly get it on, it has now become noisy at idle..

[ClarCE]

Right, had a good look last night, got the belt off after lots of struggling - tensioner is knackered, its stopped springing back now - the new belt must have been so tight (literally 2mm of play) that its ruined the springing mechanism somehow and the pully bearings look like they've been spinning dry for ages - its VERY noisy! .. So, new tensioner on the way and picking up a belt from vx dealer this afternoon..

joy, joy..

[tunnie]

i had the complete opposite effect from the belt change at the weekend, mine has gone from being very noise to silent!

When James had put the cambelt on, I wanted to hear the engine running without the aux belt on. I was amazed at how quite it was, then on with the new belt, and it was still a lot quieter!

I must say looking at how loose my belt was I was very lucky, the engine feels tighter now!

[JamesV6CDX]

Hmm... maybe we need a sticky about not using autovaux belts on the V6's, if they are killing older tensioners...

[TheBoy]

Hmm... maybe we need a sticky about not using autovaux belts on the V6's, if they are killing older tensioners...

Its possible the belt is tighter just because its new?  Maybe a genuine belt would be as tight?

[Kevin Wood]

How do the part numbers compare?

Most belt part numbers have a length in millimetres embedded in them. For example, one I have kicking around in the garage (Not from an Omega I hasten to add!) has a part number 092506. It's 925 mm long and is for a multi-vee sprocket with 6 grooves in it. It also has a Halfords part number of HB925g.

It might be worth comparing the old and new and see if they have different lengths.

Kevin

[Taxi_Driver]

Ive had the same prob, buying aux belts from motoring outlets. A certain one will sell me the wrong belt everytime.....too tight.....the first time this happened my mechanic got it on......but wouldnt leave it on.....it maxed the tensioner to the limit.....told me to take it back and ask for next size up.....which i did....shop insisted the next size up was the wrong one.....but it fitted fine....tensioner was about 1/2 way on its travel.....mechanic happy with it.....so was i  

Also consider if the belts too tight......its also putting more stress and strain on the other bearings.....like alternator...power steering....etc.....

This was on my merc.....but the same applies....and imo if the belt is too tight get it changed for next size up or use vx belts.....may cost a few quid more but better than knackering other bearings.  

[ClarCE]

I've changed the belt and the tensioner on mine now, felt good finally doing some stuff myself - apart from stabbing my self with a screwdriver on the last friggin jubilee clip putting it back together!

Anyhow, the belt looked to be the same size so I thought it could have been a waste of money, however it was a lot easier to get on, and the tensioner is not as highly sprung (although its new so they may have modded it somehow)

I have got a rather large problem though - James will remember from the party that one of my bolts holding the tensioner on was wrong, it was a 17mm socket - not an E14 (I think) so the cowboys who last had it off used the wrong one.  This bolt has now ripped the threads out of wherever it bolts into - so now I only have one rather than two bolts securing the tensioner to the block.

God knows how it happened as I certainly didn't even get to tighten the blasted thing up, it was just spinning and spinning, then I took it out and noticed the threads wrapped around the bolt itself!

It seems ok, but what do you guys think?  Its the bottom of the two bolts thats now missing Is there anyway (save replacing the engine) that this might be rectified?  Just typical really, I do one job and manage to create an even bigger one!

Cheers,

Chris.

[JamesV6CDX]

I've changed the belt and the tensioner on mine now, felt good finally doing some stuff myself - apart from stabbing my self with a screwdriver on the last friggin jubilee clip putting it back together!

Anyhow, the belt looked to be the same size so I thought it could have been a waste of money, however it was a lot easier to get on, and the tensioner is not as highly sprung (although its new so they may have modded it somehow)

I have got a rather large problem though - James will remember from the party that one of my bolts holding the tensioner on was wrong, it was a 17mm socket - not an E14 (I think) so the cowboys who last had it off used the wrong one.  This bolt has now ripped the threads out of wherever it bolts into - so now I only have one rather than two bolts securing the tensioner to the block.

God knows how it happened as I certainly didn't even get to tighten the blasted thing up, it was just spinning and spinning, then I took it out and noticed the threads wrapped around the bolt itself!

It seems ok, but what do you guys think?  Its the bottom of the two bolts thats now missing Is there anyway (save replacing the engine) that this might be rectified?  Just typical really, I do one job and manage to create an even bigger one!

Cheers,

Chris.

Right..

I can only imagine you may have cross threaded the 17mm bolt without realising it..

When I re-fitted this bolt, it WAS the correct thread - I compared it against the original. BUT the thread wasn't as long as it should be. The bolt torqued up OK at the time, so I can only imagine it's crossed... hopefully on the thread of the bolt and not in the hole

The best bet, is to try and remove it, and re-fit an original T14 (or whatever it is) bolt. This will have a much longer thread, and should hopefully bite. I sincerely hope it's not snapped off in the hole?

If so.. it could be a big job.. from memory. this tensioner bolts onto the cylinder head, and there is no access down there to drill it.. so it would be a head-off job to fix - not a job that can happen in an afternoon!

Can you confirm that nothing is snapped off in the hole? Best bet is to drive it as little as possible (That tensioner won't be 100% secure, (or on the correct angle) with just one bolt, and the belt could run off..

I need to have a look at this with you ASAP, maybe even before the rocker gaskets..

[JamesV6CDX]

Reading your above post, I think you'll get away with it.

The bolt with the 17mm head was VERY short, the proper Vx bolts are MUCH longer.

This means you'll have only taken off one or two turns of thread inside the hole....

99% sure you'll be OK with this one mate.

Go to VX at your first opportunity, and get the right bolt. It should just go in and tighten (may be a bit tricky to start).. but I think you'll be fine.

If not, back to Plan B, I'll investigate it with you mate.

Presumably everything else is OK? I can definately confirm from what we saw, that a herd of cowboys have attacked your car at some point

[ClarCE]

I've changed the belt and the tensioner on mine now, felt good finally doing some stuff myself - apart from stabbing my self with a screwdriver on the last friggin jubilee clip putting it back together!

Anyhow, the belt looked to be the same size so I thought it could have been a waste of money, however it was a lot easier to get on, and the tensioner is not as highly sprung (although its new so they may have modded it somehow)

I have got a rather large problem though - James will remember from the party that one of my bolts holding the tensioner on was wrong, it was a 17mm socket - not an E14 (I think) so the cowboys who last had it off used the wrong one.  This bolt has now ripped the threads out of wherever it bolts into - so now I only have one rather than two bolts securing the tensioner to the block.

God knows how it happened as I certainly didn't even get to tighten the blasted thing up, it was just spinning and spinning, then I took it out and noticed the threads wrapped around the bolt itself!

It seems ok, but what do you guys think?  Its the bottom of the two bolts thats now missing Is there anyway (save replacing the engine) that this might be rectified?  Just typical really, I do one job and manage to create an even bigger one!

Cheers,

Chris.

Right..

I can only imagine you may have cross threaded the 17mm bolt without realising it..

When I re-fitted this bolt, it WAS the correct thread - I compared it against the original. BUT the thread wasn't as long as it should be. The bolt torqued up OK at the time, so I can only imagine it's crossed... hopefully on the thread of the bolt and not in the hole

The best bet, is to try and remove it, and re-fit an original T14 (or whatever it is) bolt. This will have a much longer thread, and should hopefully bite. I sincerely hope it's not snapped off in the hole?

If so.. it could be a big job.. from memory. this tensioner bolts onto the cylinder head, and there is no access down there to drill it.. so it would be a head-off job to fix - not a job that can happen in an afternoon!

Can you confirm that nothing is snapped off in the hole? Best bet is to drive it as little as possible (That tensioner won't be 100% secure, (or on the correct angle) with just one bolt, and the belt could run off..

I need to have a look at this with you ASAP, maybe even before the rocker gaskets..

Hi James, cheers for the speedy response!

I could try taking it apart and swapping the bolt from top to bottom to see if I can get any bite on it - this would also reveal any bolt left in the block as it wouldn't go in I'm guessing - the end of the bolt that was the wrong one certainly doesn't look like its snapped - I guess the reason its done it is because there wasn't enough threads being locked on to - too much pressure on too little threads?

Cheers,

Chris.

[ClarCE]

Reading your above post, I think you'll get away with it.

The bolt with the 17mm head was VERY short, the proper Vx bolts are MUCH longer.

This means you'll have only taken off one or two turns of thread inside the hole....

99% sure you'll be OK with this one mate.

Go to VX at your first opportunity, and get the right bolt. It should just go in and tighten (may be a bit tricky to start).. but I think you'll be fine.

If not, back to Plan B, I'll investigate it with you mate.

Presumably everything else is OK? I can definately confirm from what we saw, that a herd of cowboys have attacked your car at some point

everything else is absolutely excellent, and the new tensioner is as quiet as a mouse - the engines sounding like new

Ok, tomorrow I'll get straight on to vx about a new bolt, easier for me to just try this than take it all apart again I think - would you agree?

It relieves me a bit that you think it will be ok, I was panicking there for a few mins!