Endlessly stretching accessory belt

djnolan · djnolan's Garage

I have had to retighten my accessory belt on my 85.5 and three or four times. It's a contitech belt and it seems like it just keeps stretching and loosening up again. Any suggestions should I go to Gates or Dayco perhaps?

9FF · 12-14-2016, 08:37 AM

How do you know it is stretching, do you compare it to a new one each time?

I'm only saying this because it's unlikely it has stretched, most probably your accessory mounting is loosening. Make sure that when you adjust at the tensioning bolt, you have loosened the accessory bracket fixed mounting points to allow easy movement at the adjuster, then tighten everything back.

Rasta Monsta · Rasta Monsta's Garage

Something else is wrong. I'd carefully inspect (by removal if necessary) all mounting hardware for alternator and AC pump. . .my 87 spit off an AC mounting bolt a few years back.

Jfrahm · 12-14-2016, 10:04 AM

Typically this is due to someone hamfisting the adjustment turnbuckle/strut and breaking one or more of the following:
The strut itself
Pivot or mounting bolts
Block ears
-etc-

Search around for the procedure to adjust the accessories. You could jack up the car with that strut so it's no problem for it to shear bolts or block ears.

-Joel.

88Silver924S · 88Silver924S's Garage

Agree with Jfrahm--also check for stripped threads? Good luck

djnolan · djnolan's Garage

And then what?

Jfrahm · 12-15-2016, 07:57 AM

Tell us what you find? The belt is not really stretching. Is this the alternator/AC belt or the PS belt?

dgcantrell · dgcantrell's Garage

Yeah.. it's not the belt. Something else is going on. Mine would eat an alternator/AC belt every two years a while back. I think I was tightening it just hair too much. I slacked off a little bit on the last one. It's been on there for 5 year now.

v2rocket_aka944 · 12-15-2016, 09:46 AM

once you set it right, should be good...
i don't think i've adjusted the tension on my accessory belt since 2006 lol...i unbolt the ends of the rod and remove it from the car rather than try to fight the jam nut

djnolan · djnolan's Garage

The procedure to adjust the alternator belt is not on Clarkes. However it has been the 3rd most common maintenance procedure on my 2 944's, after filling the gas tank and putting air in the tires.

9FF · 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djnolan

The procedure to adjust the alternator belt is not on Clarkes. However it has been the 3rd most common maintenance procedure on my 2 944's, after filling the gas tank and putting air in the tires.

It's included here <elect-01> under alternator replacement.

Jfrahm · 12-16-2016, 08:37 AM

Although it's common sense anyone working on cars should have I do not see that procedure loosening the pivot points on the accessory or the eyebolts on the strut so IMO it's just a good way to break stuff. These parts tend to fall off if someone has not done this work properly and broken some things or left the accessory pivots loose.

What I do:
Spray with penetrating oil
Break loose the strut jam nuts (one is reverse thread)
break loose the strut end bolts (better to have these tight when doing the above)
Loosen the accessory pivot bolts
adjust
Reverse procedure to return to normal operation.

As suggested if the strut is trouble just remove it from the car and deal with it on the workbench. Get a spare also they are cheap used.

-Joel.

djnolan · djnolan's Garage

I will give that a try this weekend if the polar vortex retreats...