car garage data point

[bub2006]

Does anyone have access to the data point used in a lot of garages. Cant remember what its called but gives diagrams,instructions and time scales to do jobs on cars. My fiestas alternator belt is on its way out and cant for life of me find how to loosen tension. When i changed water pump i removed the whole bracket and the unit which was a pain and don't fancy that again! Car is a 2001 mk4 1.6 zetec se engine. Thanks

[STUNO]

Slightly off topic....Many years ago when cambelts were still becoming common, I was told of a quick way to change belts.

Take a sharp knife, a very sharp knife

while the engine is running, slit the belt in half lengthways

remove the outer half (after switching off !)

fit new belt on , if you do it carefully it will fit perfectly.

cut off the other half of the belt

slide the new belt on fully

drive away

 

They were mostly RWD then so there was room to work around the engine. I have never heard of anyone who actually did this though !!

[twosmoke300]

Some fords don't have any tensioners just a stretchy belt . There is a tool to wind them on and off but you can do it carefully with a screwdriver.

[mat_the_cat]

slit the belt in half lengthways

 

I've done this a few times, but never with the engine running. Generally if I'm doing a quick belt change before a sale, or I'm confident in the tensioner/water pump bearings, as I like to check these at the same time. Obviously you can't give them a quick spin with half a belt on!

 

Autodata is what you need.

[twosmoke300]

just looked in autodata belt diagrams and it doesnt give much clue really . No seperate tensioner so its a case of moving the alternator or pas pump .

Or its a strechy belt.

[jbz2079]

Have a look on You-Tube there are a few videos on removal and fitting of these types of belt and the tools to do it

without damaging the belts.

[bub2006]

Thanks folks. Ill just remove it all again then!

[castros_bro]

Slightly off topic....Many years ago when cambelts were still becoming common, I was told of a quick way to change belts.

Take a sharp knife, a very sharp knife

while the engine is running, slit the belt in half lengthways

remove the outer half (after switching off !)

fit new belt on , if you do it carefully it will fit perfectly.

cut off the other half of the belt

slide the new belt on fully

drive away

 

They were mostly RWD then so there was room to work around the engine. I have never heard of anyone who actually did this though !!

 

This is the "standard" method to change Morini V twin cam belts which should be done every 8000km or 3 years but has no tensioner just 3 different grades (lengths) of belt to choose from.

[derek9213]

your fiesta has a stretch alternator belt, it doesnt have a tensioner, you can buy a full belt kit that comes with the tools to remove and refit the new belt but we just use a pry bar in the garage and turn the engine with a socket on the crank pulley while levering the belt outwards, same for reffiting, lever the belt inwards and rotate the engine

[bub2006]

Thanks. That explains why i didn't see any form of tensioner when i removed the alternator.

[red5]

You mean Autodata ? I do - want a pic or similar just ask. or service sheet, or ...

[Junkman]

Slightly off topic....Many years ago when cambelts were still becoming common, I was told of a quick way to change belts.

Take a sharp knife, a very sharp knife

while the engine is running, slit the belt in half lengthways

remove the outer half (after switching off !)

fit new belt on , if you do it carefully it will fit perfectly.

cut off the other half of the belt

slide the new belt on fully

drive away

 

They were mostly RWD then so there was room to work around the engine. I have never heard of anyone who actually did this though !!

 

 

This was the standard method I employed to change them on non-interference Ford OHCs, with the only difference, that I cut them in half with a Stanley knife while someone else was operating the starter motor, i.e. not with a running engine. Even if it went wrong, nothing was lost.

[brickwall]

Aye, I just erased Autodata as it was pretty basic and doesn't help with the, "How the fuck do I do that?" things.

[red5]

Eh? How so?

[bub2006]

Thanks for the help folkd. Did it eventually. Red5 i will bear that in mind for future reference chap. Thanks