PDA

View Full Version : Serpentine Belt issues

joseb
04-30-2016, 06:52 PM
I'm having issues replacing the serpentine belt on my project car.

The car is a 1995 318ti, build date of 06/95 according to the VIN.

I replaced the water pump and thermostat housing and decided to replace the belt while I was in there. I looked up the part and landed on a Continental 4060653 (6PK1657) Poly-V Belt.

After putting the water pump and thermostat housing back, I have not been able to get the new belt on the engine. I checked the routing and it is correct, but there just isn't enough slack to get the belt over the tensioner pulley.

I noticed that realoem has the belt listed as a 1660mm belt and I have a 1657mm, thinking that might be issue, I went out to a local auto parts store and had them find a belt, their system came up with a 1665mm belt, thinking it would be OK, I brought that home and tried, still too small to get over the tensioner.

Then I remembered that the PO mentioned this car had an engine swap, so I figured maybe it's got the M44 engine. I went back to the auto store and picked up a belt for a 1997 318ti, this belt is 1740mm and of course it fits, but now it seems way too loose to be right.

I also tried the original belt, and I can't get that one to fit either. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong here, any ideas? I didn't touch the tensioner or any other part of the system other than the water pump.

**EDIT** I just checked the belt that was on it, it is 1660mm so I'm probably doing something wrong, but for the life of me I can't figure out what. I've done belts before on my Audi and family members' cars with no issues.
740isport
05-04-2016, 11:50 PM
Can you post a picture of how you are routing the belt?
BRADESTAR
05-05-2016, 04:41 PM
Maybe something is wrong with the tensioner? Are you getting good movement on it when you put your hex in there?
joseb
05-05-2016, 04:48 PM
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160505/643062cc751b3315e2c61c958170bb0c.jpg

That's the best picture I could get of the routing. Obviously it's loose on some of the pulleys but the route should be ok.
joseb
05-05-2016, 04:50 PM
Maybe something is wrong with the tensioner? Are you getting good movement on it when you put your hex in there?



I thought of that also, it seemed to be moving pretty freely and smoothly, however to make sure I took it off yesterday to inspect. It looked ok but I have nothing to reference it to other than stock photos. I might just replace it anyway.
drewyoda
08-04-2017, 02:06 AM
I'm having a similar problem on my 96 after replacing the alternator. It seems like there is no way to get the tensioner to move far enough to get the belt on. I've started to strip the torx bolt and busted my finger :mad::mad: trying to get the tensioner pulley to move so far. What ever came of this?
Anyone else have advice?
joseb
08-04-2017, 02:33 AM
I'm having a similar problem on my 96 after replacing the alternator. It seems like there is no way to get the tensioner to move far enough to get the belt on. I've started to strip the torx bolt and busted my finger :mad::mad: trying to get the tensioner pulley to move so far. What ever came of this?
Anyone else have advice?

So I did finally figure out what I was doing wrong. I was used to other tensioners where its a simple spring-type tensioner; you move it and it goes. On this tensioner I noticed that it seems to be hydraulic, so you move it and it seems like it stopped, but you keep applying constant pressure and it keeps moving slowly. After I did this I was able to slip the belt on with no issues. Hope that helps.
drewyoda
08-08-2017, 02:14 AM
Mine was defunitely a spring tensioner. I ended up giving in and buying a new tensioner. They come locked in the fully compressed position so you can get the belt on then release the tension.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
paul somlo
08-08-2017, 07:32 AM
I'm having a similar problem on my 96 after replacing the alternator. It seems like there is no way to get the tensioner to move far enough to get the belt on. I've started to strip the torx bolt and busted my finger :mad::mad: trying to get the tensioner pulley to move so far. What ever came of this?
Anyone else have advice?
The Torx head bolt wasn't present on the original tensioners, they used a hex head bolt, so I'm guessing your tensioner was replaced at some point. I replaced mine awhile back and immediately saw problems down the road with the Torx head. There's just not enough engagement between bit and head and when the Torx head starts to get chewed up, it's end of story. I got frustrated enough, that I removed the Torx head and replaced it with the hex head fastener from the old tensioner. They're both the same LH thread. The pulley design has changed, thus the hex head doesn't sit down inside the bearing on the new tensioner, but rests on the shoulder of the inner race.