i replaced my alternator belt and my power steering belt this weekend since they were looking pretty worn out. I gutted my a/c due to a repair so i got a new belt that fit. Fitment for the two belts were not an issue at all. I got the powersteering belt on with no problem and tightened it accordinly. The problem was with the alternator. the loosing bolt had to much play in it and could not loosen enough so i just tapped the bolt until i could get the belt on. Now it has to much play and i can't get the bolt to move back up to tighten. It just moves in circles. here is a picture of the bolt. Do you guys think vice grips would work? I could grip the end and try pulling it up and than tighten it.

 

It's easy to strip out the threaded piece that that bolt goes into...check it out and see if the threads are OK.

 

thats the thing, i couldn't even get it off. It just spun that bolt around in circles. if i use vice grips could i get it off? Acutally i answered my own question. I should be able to if the threads are still good, which they are.

 

Hey did you loosen the 12mm nut that holds the adjuster.it sounds like its tight if it was loose you should be able to slide the alt up and down if the bolt is striped get a pry bay and put tension on it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jdmprelude94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey did you loosen the 12mm nut that holds the adjuster.it sounds like its tight if it was loose you should be able to slide the alt up and down if the bolt is striped get a pry bay and put tension on it.</TD></TR></TABLE>


ding ding ding. loosen the 12mm nut of the bolt that slides up and down thru the bracket, THEN start tightening the tensioner bolt

 

i broke mines off..what you need to do is get a bolt and weld it to were its broke or stripped off. when it cools you can twist it right off with a socket or whatever.

 

Ok i guess i did not word it well enough. What i meant to say i cant loosen the 12mm bolt at all. its not stripped it just spins in cirlces with the bolt that allows you to adjust the alternator. Vice grips?

 

i dont think your loosening the right nut/bolt.
the bolt that is dead-smack in the middle of the pic you posted has a 12mm nut on the other side of it. loosen/take that off, then you can tighten the ADJUSTING BOLT (10 mm!!) which is in the top right. once the belt has enough tension, tighten the 12mm mounting nut.

 

Oh my god. That IS the bolt that i am trying to tighten. Im telling you it has to much play. Even my friend was suprised. Thats why i am saying vice grips? I am going to go ahead and use some vice grips and see if that helps. i know it has the 12mm nut on it and like i am saying, it is just spinning in circles. Its not stripped and its not damaged. Its just loosing or tighting because its spinning the whole contraption in circles.

 

You guys with your fancy belt tightening mechanisms... all i have is a pry-bar
(yay weight savings!)

 

yes vice grips should work to hold the bolt that has no head on it . if vice grips dont work put the blade of a flat head screwdriver in the track it rides in against the flat sides of the bolt so it will wedge it and hopefully bind the bolt so that it can not spin while you are trying to take the nut off

 

It sounds like what your trying to say it that the actual nut on the other side of the bolt isn't holding its position (spinning) when you attempt to get the bolt to loosen up, which is why the bolt doesn't loosen when you try and it just spins in circles, if that makes any sence. A vice grip to hold the nut/bolt still/down and some penetrate should help to get the bolt loose to allow for adjustment of the alternator. Hope that helps