saxo vts belts

1. scouser27 Newbie Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3

   #1 17th February 2010, 20:27

   can someone tell me if they've had problems with a belt that runs around the alternator, water pump, and power steering unit?
   
   apparently my belt fell off because off the rubber runners that it runs on were perished??
   
   does this make sense to anyone, and if so, is it a big job??
   
   thanks.
2. Andy_K Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2004 in the garage trying to fix the car Posts: 5882 Mondeo st tdci & Supercharged vts

   #2 17th February 2010, 20:42

   There are two belts. One which drives the alternator, and the other is teh cam belt which runs between the crank and the cam pulleys at the top of the engine. this also runs the water pump.
   
   Which belt is it thats come off? I'm guessing it will be the alternator one else you may well have killed your engine if the cam belts gone mate.
   
   Alternator one is a thin ribbed belt. Cam belt is thicker with teeth, but is covered by plastic casing on the side of teh engine block.
   
   Power steering pump is electric powered, so no belts running that
3. scouser27 Newbie Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3

   #3 17th February 2010, 20:49

   its the belt that you can physically get hold of, the one that runs to the alternator.
   
   the AA said that it sits on some sort of moulds or something, an that they may have just perished with wear an tear, an thats why the belt had come off.
   
   any idea whether this sounds like an expensive job or not??
   
   thanks for ure reply btw.
4. Andy_K Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2004 in the garage trying to fix the car Posts: 5882 Mondeo st tdci & Supercharged vts

   #4 17th February 2010, 20:58

   The alternator belt has a tensioner (like a threaded bar) which holds it tight. The belt runs around a couple of rollers and two pulleys - one on the alternator and one on the bottom of the engine. Now sure what the AA man means tbh.
   
   If the tensioner has dropped off, they aren't much to replace. If its still there, it may just need adjusting. So that would be a cheap job.
   
   If its one of the pulleys thats sheared off, then that may cost a bit more, but still shouldn't be too big a job
5. scouser27 Newbie Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 3

   #5 17th February 2010, 21:02

   ok, thanks for your help andy, i appreciate it.
6. Andy_K Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2004 in the garage trying to fix the car Posts: 5882 Mondeo st tdci & Supercharged vts

   #6 17th February 2010, 21:03

   Not a problem mate