75 914 1.8 alt. belt problem???

Donaldo88 · 08-26-2006, 02:52 PM

Newbie.
I got a long-stored low-mileage, 914 1.8, still FI, last year. Haven't driven much because of recurring problem with alternator belt. Immediately after taking off hauler, within 40 miles, it scorched the belt. Mechanic put on new one, I wanted him to check some things that I couldn't do anyway. Then it slipped, in another 100 miles or so. I tightened without seeing it. Next it flew off entirely in maybe another 50 miles. The v-belt appeared to have run sideways because it was deformed with one edge stretched. I can't see much, but it looks like I have to drop the engine to even get a good look at alternator alignment, pulley condition, etc. The engine pulley feels rough, but the rest of the car isn't rusted much. I can't tell by the photo I have, how the pulley fastens to the fan wheel. I'm really disappointed. We had one of these new, when first married, and this was an anniversary gift to my wife. She drove the new 2.0, ( I was not that crazy about it at the time.)
Any advice out there?
Thanks,
Don

Kart54 · 08-27-2006, 09:21 PM

Don,
Sounds like the alternator pulley is misaligned. Also possible the alternator mount against the engine is broken.
First time I did this I thought it was tough but once you get into it, assuming some mechanical ability it's not bad.
I did mine by jacking up the driver's side of the car. From just in front of the rear wheel you should have a clear view of the pulleys and the alternator. You can make it even easier by pulling the driver's side rear wheel off. Always use jack stands since you'll be crawling under it on that side.
If your misalignment is as bad as it sounds then it should be obvious to the naked eye.
To align mine I used a variety of shims made from washers and then did some minor final tweaks by bending the arm that holds the alternator on the outboard side.
Mine is used for racing and hasn't come off since I redid it. The car routinely runs 7000 plus rpms.
Good Luck,
Randy

Donaldo88 · 09-17-2006, 09:35 AM

Thanks for the encouragement, all of you. This took a while, obviously I'm a little discouraged and didn't get back to it right away. So I got under again and took off the shroud under the alt, since the upper stuff seems to only come off with dropping the engine. I could see that it was out of line, and had to add about 3/16 of washers to line it up. (re: prior msg, If there are shims under the drive pulley, it was going to be tough to find out and remove them, to affect alignment that way) But I don't know how it will perform over time, as I only made about 6 miles before a whole new problem. Started off OK then stuttered and stalled, I turned around and headed home, but it died completely, and finally wouldn't restart. Next morning same thing, but was able to limp the last mile home... Week later, it hits a few licks but won't run. Co-worker who manages a fleet of cars and trucks up to 10 yrs old has been warning of effects of ethanol in older injected cars. REcommends a dose of Chevron Techron, because it, unlike other so-called cleaners, has Stoddard sovent and "proprietary" stuff, to clean fuel systems, then to change the fuel filter, and get it over with, before the ethanol dislodges it, and contaminates the injectors, etc. This is an old tankful, as I hardly have been able to drive the 'teener, so don't know if it has any ethanol in it. Are they pushing Ethanol in your area??

sww914 · 09-19-2006, 08:44 AM

Ethanol scares me a lot less than really old gas. Drain all of the old gas out, do the Techron, change the fuel filter.

Donaldo88 · 09-20-2006, 07:44 PM

Thank you. The gas is a few months old, but it ran OK then two weeks later it wouldn't run at all. Put in the Techron, but haven't gotten any run time after that. Will change filter, get a prime into it, put in a can of fresh gas, and see if I can get it going. Thanks again.