Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 1996)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 8 Jul 1996 20:36:28 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven Johnson" <sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com>
Subject:      '91 Camper Belt Change

Hi folks!

Well, I finally did some maintenance to the '91 Camper this long weekend. I replaced the belts. I must say that it would have been less of a pain to change the power steering belt had VW routed the return coolant line some other way. As it was I had to cut the line and wrestle the remaining clamped bit off of the plastic line. This took me a while as I didn't want to break the plastic line because I figured that it was probably getting brittle.

The power steering belt was pretty easy. The AC one however took some studying of the configuration. The Bentley didn't even have a photo of the compressor, much less instructions on which bolts to loosen. Well, after looking at it, I loosened a bolt on the bottom (13mm) and then loosened 2 13mm bolts that were part of the bracket that was obviously the one that the compressor moved up and down along. After not getting the com- pressor to budge, I loosened the two allen bolts on the top left of the compressor. Still no movement. Again, I studied the left side bracket and eye-balled the long bolt on the top inside. Hmmmmm.... that reminds me sort of my wifes Sentra tension bolt for it's compressors belt. So I proceeded to loosen that bolt and VIOLA! The belt eased its tension. It to several cranks of the ratchet, but it finally came off. But not with out me snapping the dust cover in two. DOH! So I called up the dealer and was told that it was a $17.00 mistake and so I had one ordered. I'll also pick up another length of hose to replace the shortened coolant return hose with some extra that will be a spare.

After that the alternator/waterpump belt came off with no fuss.

Took a break......

Next, I checked the old belts against the new ones and they were close enough. The old ones were 9.5 and the new ones were 10.0.

So I slipped the alternator belt on and had to figure out a way to leverage the belt tension. More studying. After several different positions (Keep quite Thom..... You to David) I found that with my ridiculously big screwdriver angled down the left side of the alternator and to the rear side of the belt, I could get really good tension and tighten the 13mm bolt at the same time. Whew! Once that was on, I got the AC belt on in short order by cranking the alternator pulley with a large crescent wrench. BTW, I was careful to turn the pulleys as I tensioned each belt to make sure that they seated well. Then I ran the engine and rechecked the tension. That was another thing about the Bentley that I thought was pretty lame. It only gave the belt tension for the alternator belt which was about 1/2 inch. Nothing for the compressor or power steering. So I made them all about 1/2 inch of give for the tension.

I have about 80K miles on this engine and I'm happy with the life of the belts. They don't look bad at all IMO. I'll keep them as spares till I get new ones from the dealer. I changed them because I was getting a squeel from the compressor one when I turned on the AC at idle. I also wanted to know how to change them and do it on my terms and not when the belt(s) decided. ;)

Oh well, just one of those maintenance items that have to be delt with.

Cheers!

Steven Sacramento, CA sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.