Problems: alternator, tension pulley

[EliCash]

First off I have a 98 Discovery LE, a few weeks ago the tach slowely started to malfunction about half the time, it got worse as time wore on. On another forum several guys that used to be Rover mechanics all said that it was the first sign of a failing alternator. They said next the MPH would go and then I would be stranded. Well just as they said the problems continued until the car was stuck in the driveway. I go to autozone and follow the instuctions perfectly. Get that new sucker in but the belt just didn't seem tight enough. I loosened the middle bolt on the pulley and never seemed to get a lot of play with it. Am I missing something here? Do I need to remove that bolt close to all the way to loosen the pulley? The reason I care is because when I hooked everything back up the tach still didn't work. Also, when the air is turned on it gives a nice squeeking noise that didn't exist before.

I just need advice on how to deal with the tension pulley, do I need to lube it up? Could it just be stuck? What am I missing here? Please if anyone can help I would really appreciate it. College grad student and I need to be able to fix on my own. Thanks in advance

EliCash

[thebiglad]

First off I have a 98 Discovery LE, a few weeks ago the tach slowely started to malfunction about half the time, it got worse as time wore on. On another forum several guys that used to be Rover mechanics all said that it was the first sign of a failing alternator. They said next the MPH would go and then I would be stranded. Well just as they said the problems continued until the car was stuck in the driveway. I go to autozone and follow the instuctions perfectly. Get that new sucker in but the belt just didn't seem tight enough. I loosened the middle bolt on the pulley and never seemed to get a lot of play with it. Am I missing something here? Do I need to remove that bolt close to all the way to loosen the pulley? The reason I care is because when I hooked everything back up the tach still didn't work. Also, when the air is turned on it gives a nice squeeking noise that didn't exist before.

I just need advice on how to deal with the tension pulley, do I need to lube it up? Could it just be stuck? What am I missing here? Please if anyone can help I would really appreciate it. College grad student and I need to be able to fix on my own. Thanks in advance

EliCash


On a 300 all the tension should be taken up by the spring-loaded idler wheel???

[rbm]

does the alternator have the alli heat sheild on the back? if it does has it cracked? if so repalce the heat shield and refit the tach drive wire connector with a ring terminal and fit ti the stud the push on terminal fits on.

[EliCash]

On a 300 all the tension should be taken up by the spring-loaded idler wheel???


This is what people keep saying.... when I tighten it up it, there is no spring loaded effect. Let me see if I am doing it right, this thing looks like two wheels, one doesn't move and looks as if it would have a spring loaded device in the center the other wheel is the one the belt attaches to. Am I loosening the correct bolt? does the bolt need to come all the way off? I am new at fooling with cars but am also very good at picking things up if people can explain them to me. If there is anyway you could tell me exactly how to do it I would appreciate it, if not I totally understand if you have other things to do.

[littlelegs]

This is what people keep saying.... when I tighten it up it, there is no spring loaded effect. Let me see if I am doing it right, this thing looks like two wheels, one doesn't move and looks as if it would have a spring loaded device in the center the other wheel is the one the belt attaches to. Am I loosening the correct bolt? does the bolt need to come all the way off? I am new at fooling with cars but am also very good at picking things up if people can explain them to me. If there is anyway you could tell me exactly how to do it I would appreciate it, if not I totally understand if you have other things to do.

Is this petrol or diesel? The alternator has no adjustment on a 300 diesel and is fixed, the idler wheel has to be levered back against the spring with a ring spanner to fit the belt under, releasing it puts the proper tension on it. Can you send a picture to clarify what you've got?

[JimAttrill]

Be careful, the 300Tdi tensioner pulley is held on by a left hand thread. That is obvious really as you have to pull the bolt anti-clockwise to untension the belt which would normally undo the bolt.

[littlelegs]

Be careful, the 300Tdi tensioner pulley is held on by a left hand thread. That is obvious really as you have to pull the bolt anti-clockwise to untension the belt which would normally undo the bolt.

Left hand thread??? If the nut is correctly tightened it won't move as you're only turning against the spring, not untightening it. Never had a problem before, in fact the pulley is difficult to untighten because of the spring.

[Les Henson]

This is the 300TDi belt tensioner in position.



Have you routed the belt correctly?
To release tension you put a 15mm spanner or socket on the head of the centre bolt of the wheel and lever it upwards/anti-clockwise. If you removed the whole tensioner via the 15mm nut in the centre of the housing - it has an alloy lug on the back of it that has to locate in a hole in the casing that it bolts to or the whole thing will not tension on the spring inside.
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