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[Entwood]

SWTSMBO has just got home with the "STOP" light on and the battery light on !!!  (so why didn't she stop and call me who knows .. )

Sure enough the belt to the alternator has gone - leaving a small bit jammed in the aircon compressor clutch .. but thats another story ..

We've only had this car 2 weeks so I haven't got the relevant book of lies yet ... it looks to me that the aircon belt has to come right off to get the alternator belt on... is this correct ??

I'm hoping to get a book of lies and a belt tomorrow and sort it for her, but if anyone can offer advice/tips be much appreciated .. there doesn't seem to be much room to work down there !!!

Ta muchly ..

[cem_devecioglu]

unfortunately the clit engine bay design is too  compressed .. either you have to work from down the car or dismantling the grill and lights  :-/

but dont worry for the car , wont bring too complicated problems..

[KillerWatt]

Which engine?

[Entwood]

Which engine?

1.2 Expression ... It's the 16 valve one, with air con

[feeutfo]

and on the other foot?.... Sorry.
Could have access to book of cam belts tomorrow but will probably be to late. You'll want a haynes anyway i would think.....

[Entwood]

Just to close this one away .... got the relevant "book of lies" and after 3...  yes....  3 visits to the renault dealers I eventually got a belt that fits ... even with Registration no, VIN and Engine No  they managed to firstly give me the aircon one then one that was too short ..

Unfortunately as she had "lost" the original I had nowt to compare with and had to take their word for it ... bunch of numpties ..

Job was a bitch .. not technically difficult, only a total of 1 screw and 3 bolts... but there is just no room to work ..

My Torx set were WAAAY to long for the space I had, so down to the motor factors and, luckily, found a torx bits set like a set of allen keys (?) ... with these I was able to loosen the screw off, release the aircon belt tensioner, and remove the aircon belt. 2 bolts on the alternator .. one of which is impossible to see ... so all done by feel. On with the new belt, do it back up then put the aircon belt back on.   

Haynes then talks about some specialist tool for getting the tension right, that can only be done at a main dealer .. sod that ... belts are tensioned to 1/2 inch play at centre of longest run... just like I've always done   

Forearms are raw from working in such a confined space, but job is done ..

SWTSMBO has been lectured on the meaning of the word "STOP" when it comes on in big red lights !!! Will she listen ?? ... doubt it ..

 

[Agemo]

SWTSMBO Hehe, like it. Glad you're sorted.

[KillerWatt]

SWTSMBO has been lectured on the meaning of the word "STOP" when it comes on in big red lights !!! Will she listen ?? ... doubt it ..

 

Mine did the same when she had a Xantia.
Hydraulic pressure regulator sprung a leak and the car duly warned her she was losing the LHM that not only does the suspension & steering, but also enables her to stop when she presses the brake pedal.

Because the car wasn't making any noises and still "appeared" to be driving properly, she assumed the red light wasn't that important 

[feeutfo]

front wheel drive cars are usually a mare for space ime. Engine mounted transversly and the wheel arch and engine mount are usually in way when the cam belt needs doing. Sometimes you get an access hatch in the wheel arch, or its a case of  lowering or lifting the engine on a jack to give access to various pulleys and tensioners or whatever. It soon becomes a stressfull job when you add in the potential for disaster if you get it wrong.

We once had an Alpha 142 twin spark for a cam belt kit. Found that an array of special tools where needed all with a very short reach. We spoke to the owner, and faced with a bill for tools or remove the engine he "said drill i whole in the wheel arch!!!!"

I hate front wheel drive cars, and shows much dealers are stitching us all up. Really brings home how important it is to find a Good independent garage. How they cope without all these special tools and diagnostic computers i dont know. They cant be expected to own them all for each manufacturer.
Anyway, glad its sorted Enty. :-)

[Taxi_Driver]

Just to close this one away .... got the relevant "book of lies" and after 3...  yes....  3 visits to the renault dealers I eventually got a belt that fits ... even with Registration no, VIN and Engine No  they managed to firstly give me the aircon one then one that was too short ..

Unfortunately as she had "lost" the original I had nowt to compare with and had to take their word for it ... bunch of numpties ..

Job was a bitch .. not technically difficult, only a total of 1 screw and 3 bolts... but there is just no room to work ..

My Torx set were WAAAY to long for the space I had, so down to the motor factors and, luckily, found a torx bits set like a set of allen keys (?) ... with these I was able to loosen the screw off, release the aircon belt tensioner, and remove the aircon belt. 2 bolts on the alternator .. one of which is impossible to see ... so all done by feel. On with the new belt, do it back up then put the aircon belt back on.   

Haynes then talks about some specialist tool for getting the tension right, that can only be done at a main dealer .. sod that ... belts are tensioned to 1/2 inch play at centre of longest run... just like I've always done   

Forearms are raw from working in such a confined space, but job is done ..

SWTSMBO has been lectured on the meaning of the word "STOP" when it comes on in big red lights !!! Will she listen ?? ... doubt it ..

 

I once had a pug 406 company car.....that put it red STOP light on when i was on the M4...temp guage was getting near the red zone....pulled over and rang the garage....got told "dont worry about the STOP light....watch the temp guage....stop if it goes into the red" it didnt and i got home....and drove it back to Bristol the next morning with the STOP light on....apparently radiator was fubared....new one fixed the prob.

Glad you fixed it tho Entwood 

[cem_devecioglu]

for the factories its no problem as they do everything outside.. and fit the car a complete finished engine..

I see the production line of BMW Z4 (film) , they combine all drive train and engine outside and finally drop the chasis on it.. 

and for some work under the car they turn the chasis 90 degrees and do everything easy.. :-?

so its not their problem..

[shammster]

Could be worse, in older cars the red OIL light means, it's to late your engine is already dead!