p38 2.5 belt tensioner - how to re-fit?

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nisbeam

Active Member
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201
Location
down in Cornwall
Having removed & replaced the alternator, how do I get the belt tensioner back in place? Not much help in RAVE and I suspect there must be some trick to it. Clearly removing the top bolt does not do much good. The bottom bolt seems to offer some chance of getting the damper back aligned with the tensioner, i.e. with the top damper bolt in place I am trying to compress the tensioner down to allow the bottom of the hydraulic tensioner to match up so I can get the bolt in. But there doesn't seem to be any movement :doh:

All advice gratefully recieved. Thanks.
 
nisbeam said:
Having removed & replaced the alternator, how do I get the belt tensioner back in place? Not much help in RAVE and I suspect there must be some trick to it. Clearly removing the top bolt does not do much good. The bottom bolt seems to offer some chance of getting the damper back aligned with the tensioner, i.e. with the top damper bolt in place I am trying to compress the tensioner down to allow the bottom of the hydraulic tensioner to match up so I can get the bolt in. But there doesn't seem to be any movement :doh:

All advice gratefully recieved. Thanks.
Click to expand...


You have made yourself some work there. No need to remove tensioner just needs turning over centre. Your not pushing hard enough.
 
Thanks wammers, but what do you mean by turning over centre? Do you mean take the belt off, connect up the tensioner then somehow turn the engine to work the belt back on ?
 
nisbeam said:
Thanks wammers, but what do you mean by turning over centre? Do you mean take the belt off, connect up the tensioner then somehow turn the engine to work the belt back on ?
Click to expand...

To change a belt you do not remove the tensioner. You put a leaver in it and turn it over centre to release the tension. The bottom of the tensioner piston is moved from left to right over centre. When to have fitted belt you lever it back to the left to apply tension to the belt.
 
If you put a 3/8 drive socket extension in the top of the adjuster, it will compress enough to get the belt on, them flick it to regain the tension. I did the same as you before I discovered you don't need to remove the tensioner to change the belt, doh!!
 
All - thanks a lot, tensioner now back in place & fine. Car still knackered though, intermittent cut-out & also intermittent not starting at all. Will post a separate post to explain symptoms, perhaps someone can help. Thanks again.
 
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