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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yes. On my third drive belt in 10k / 2 years. First shredded, got my money back/did a deal some other bits at Vx, which was great. I checked under the bonnet for any suspect causes, couldn't see anything. Replaced with Gates one. Now it's (nearly) happened again. Had the belt off and noticed one very thin patch, size of a 2p, a small tear, and like the teeth were 'flattened' all on this one point. Very odd. Plus wear to the text, which I thought was fairly normal. Bloke at the Motorfactors insisted this wasn't normal, and 'Gates belts never snap' and something was rubbing. Ok, I'll go with that, it's not coincidence.

I've cable-tied two pipes well out of the way (looks aircon/coolant) just to be super-sure in case they're drifing and catching. These are known as the 'usual suspects', however, they don't appear to be close enough to do damage.

Was round a mate's last night, he suggested the tensioner (pulley bearing re-greased a matter of weeks ago) might be to blame. He reckons it's not square on the tensioner as if the 'axle' is bent. Is this known? Didn't know the tensioners ever went wrong, just the pulley bearings. This I replaced as a matter of course, and it's got less than 50k on it, vs the original with approx 170k on.

I might/hopefully have a source of another one, just want to know if this is a known problem?

[Doctor Gollum]

For a start, the aircon pipes should be bolted to a rigid bracket

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'll certainly look see what I can see on this donor vehicle when I get out there, but there's no signs of a rigid bracket in my engine bay. If it's gone walkabout at some point in the 18 years previous to my ownership, well, nothing I can do about getting a new one until i find what it looks like and where it goes.  I shall certainly try find it

[Doctor Gollum]

I'll certainly look see what I can see on this donor vehicle when I get out there, but there's no signs of a rigid bracket in my engine bay. If it's gone walkabout at some point in the 18 years previous to my ownership, well, nothing I can do about getting a new one until i find what it looks like and where it goes.  I shall certainly try find it

From memory, it bolts to the block above the aircon compressor...

[Nick W]

Just buy a new a NEW tensioner pulley. They are the common cause of failure for serpentine belts, and they're dirt cheap.


Like this: LINK     For that sort of money why would you piss about with used?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Didn't think it was advised to get non-GM one, Nick, I thought these didn't last? Be like fitting a VCP/Autovaux steering idler, so I thought? I'd have got one ages ago if they were known as decent, every link on oof I've found people have said 'get GM' Ta 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Oh, and just realised you might have thought I was referring to the pulley - I wasn't on about 'pissing about' with a second hand pulley, I meant the tensioner itself, not the pulley. If this was bent in some way (it got dropped at some point, for instance) that was the cause my mate observed. Ta 

[neil74]

I've noticed that the drivebelt on my car looks as if it's been flattened too. but the whole tensioner was brand new as obviously was the gates belt.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Thanks 

[Andy A]

I'll certainly look see what I can see on this donor vehicle when I get out there, but there's no signs of a rigid bracket in my engine bay. If it's gone walkabout at some point in the 18 years previous to my ownership, well, nothing I can do about getting a new one until i find what it looks like and where it goes.  I shall certainly try find it

From memory, it bolts to the block above the aircon compressor...

Very good memory. 

[Andy A]

I'll certainly look see what I can see on this donor vehicle when I get out there, but there's no signs of a rigid bracket in my engine bay. If it's gone walkabout at some point in the 18 years previous to my ownership, well, nothing I can do about getting a new one until i find what it looks like and where it goes.  I shall certainly try find it

There you go. 

A photo of the bracket. Glade mine has one.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/53447058@N05/14143359315/in/dateposted-public/

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I have a feeling that the routing is different on V6 vs 4-cyl... had a google of some engine pics, but will have a look at my own engine tonight

Ta 

[Doctor Gollum]

I have a feeling that the routing is different on V6 vs 4-cyl... had a google of some engine pics, but will have a look at my own engine tonight

Ta 

Variation on a theme... aircon plumbing is broadly similar, allowing for getting past the wider V6...

You have to separate the pipe clamp from the bracket in order to remove the aux belt from the car

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Well, there's that one at the top of the engine, that needs unclipping for almost anything on the NS of the engine, next tot he throttle body. But nothing from memory at the front... could well be missing, then.

[Andy A]

I have a feeling that the routing is different on V6 vs 4-cyl... had a google of some engine pics, but will have a look at my own engine tonight

Ta 

I'm not paying attention again. I'm always getting told off for that. Should have seen the V6.

I think this is the bracket for your V6.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232123732434?clk_rvr_id=1115988304269&rmvSB=true