Date:         Sat, 16 Jul 2005 10:33:27 EDT
Reply-To:     Taobythesea@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James Benthall <Taobythesea@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Continuing Saga of Worn Alt. Belt...(kinda long)
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Hi guys,
[sorry for the excessive posts, but since I am unemployed I guess I have
more time to
try and get the kinks out of my van ;-)]

Well, I think I'm FINALLY on the right track with my alternator belt
problem!  As some
may know, my belt has been continually wearing out/burning up (i.e.  melting)
for some
unknown reason since I had my van "rebuilt" after a fire a year  ago.  Gone
through at
least 5 belts since then and had the alternator rebuilt, but still no  clue.
My mechanic,
whom I probably won't go to again [although he gets most things right and  he
is SUPER
CHEAP], has looked at it a dozen times and never sees a problem.  In  fact,
everyone
that has ever looked at it for me says that the belts and all seem to be
running true and
they have no idea what could be the problem.
After purchasing yet another belt a few weeks ago and visibly watching it
disintegrate
over time, I decided to get a fresh opinion. (Of course, this was  AFTER I
had to do an
emergency roadside replacement of the previous one that burned up and  caused
my
van to overheat spewing coolant and steam everywhere, leaving me stranded  in
a very
unsavory part of town near nightfall ;-)
 I took it over to an independent alt./starter
rebuilder a few miles away (Finch, off of N. Sheperd for any locals around)
and showed
it to a fellow named Dan.  He could see where it was wearing and asked  me to
turn the
engine on.  Right away HE could see where it was not aligned  right!  He said
my pulleys
were bad and/or the support arms/bracket that hold the alternator on were
bent. ;-)  Good to
know the answer to the problem!!  He said to bring the alternator  Monday and
he would put a
new steel pulley on it, and if that doesn't work I will have to replace the
support arms/bracket
(where I will get that I have no idea--Chris?).  It is a RELIEF to be  on the
right track, but dang
I hate to take the alternator off--last time it took me TWO DAYS to stab
that bottom bolt!
[anyone have any suggestions on how to do this easier?]
In retrospect, I should have been on to the problem a long time ago.   I KNEW
that the "rubber
dust" was an indication that the belt was rubbing somewhere!  I guess  the
lesson is to trust
your instincts. The good part is that now if I get this problem solved I
probably will stop
dreaming about selling it!  Again, thanks so much for everyones  support.
james in houston, tx
87 westy (the phoenix)
ps
Could an engine fire that went for an estimated 5 minutes be hot enough to
compromise the
alternator support arms/brackets?