Hyundai i20 Alternator drive belt

233sqn · 21 Jun 2020

Hello all

Time to replace the alternator serpentine drive belt on my son's Hyundai i20.

I have had a quick look at it and I can't see any sort of adjuster to slacken or take up the belt tension. Is it just a case of removing the alternator top bolt and swinging the alternator clear?

Excuse the ignorance!

Burnerman · 21 Jun 2020

I think you'll find these have a spring loaded belt tensioner which is heaved against it's tension with a spanner on the central nut, allowing the old belt to be removed?
These things need a fair bit of force to shift but you can usually see them 'bouncing' when the engine is running.
John

233sqn · 22 Jun 2020

Thanks John.

Do you know if a special tool is required or is it within the scope of an average home mechanic? I won't get to see the car for a few days, but there is a video on YouTube of a guy removing a belt by slackening the alternator and taking the tension out of the belt that way, but I think getting a new stiffer belt unstretched on would be a totally different proposition!

Stivino · 22 Jun 2020

Is it the same as this?

233sqn · 22 Jun 2020

Yes it is the same as the video. Looks easy coming off but going back on with a new belt won't be that easy I'm sure.... and on the video the guy says he doesn't think this is the proper way to do it!

Burnerman · 22 Jun 2020

When he heaves the alternator back into place he'll be fighting against the tensioner spring......personally I'd find the tensioner first, fit a spanner on the nut and heave it out of the way. It's usually a one person job.
John

Stivino · 22 Jun 2020

My daughter has that car car and was here yesterday (for father's day) but, she had gone before you posted otherwise I would have had a look because, I've done a bit of googlin' (no G) and found something interesting.
This is her belt, yours could be the same. Her car is Hyundai i20 1200cc 2012 model.
Read this;
Car manufactures are bringing vehicle models into the market that are not equipped with a tensioning device. For these special accessory belt drive systems, Gates offers the ideal resonse with its Micro-V Stretch Fit Belt programme. Gates Stretch Fit Multi-Ribbed Belts are pre-tensioned over the pulleys, thus maintaining tension that is capable of efficient power transmission over a long period of time, yet low enough to allow foe easy installation and to prevent component failure.
I found this, too.

Burnerman · 22 Jun 2020

https://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/tensioner/hyundai/i20
This is what I fitted to a Kia C'eed a while ago.....unfortunately I don't know how old it was.
Those stretch belts are the work of the devil....fine when the engine is on the bench but otherwise.....

John

233sqn · 25 Jun 2020

Thanks for your replies. I had a look yesterday and i can't see any form of tensioner, just the crank pulley, water pump pulley, air con pump and alternator. So it looks like it uses a stretch belt. There are a few videos on line showing stretch belts being fitted on other cars and it seems they sometimes come with a tool to help ease the belt on..... but I'm not sure there is enough room to use one on an i20 in situ!

Mottie · 25 Jun 2020

Stretch belts are normally fairly easy to fit - I’ve never used a tool ever and I just wind them on like a bike chain. You can buy tools that help guide them on to the pulley. The only exception is a Ford Focus with a twin crank pulley with two stretch belts. I only took it off to fit a power steering pump. It took me a couple of days of trying to fit one on and in the end I had to fork out a small fortune and buy a tool specifically for that engine. I have used it once more since when I had to fit an alternator to another car with the same engine so not too sore about it now! That Hyundai looks a piece of **** to do compared to most others. A 5 minute job!

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/‘orrible-job.538455/#post-4547935

Hyundai i20 Alternator drive belt

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