Change Drive Belt on Holden Astra 1.8 TS 1998 (Australian)

[chapmad2]

Heya Guys,

Excuse my ignorance for maintenance of cars, but i just CANNOT get a drive belt onto the pulleys.

How do you do it.

Its the belt that Drives the Alternator and A/C, which has a total of 3 Pulleys, and one wheel for tension. Its a 1998 September model.

I just cannot get the belt on.

Can't find any tips on this one, must be to simple.

Can't seem to see anywhere that will allow me to de-tension the belt by moving a pulley with a bolt, so how to I get it on.

I have heated the belt in the oven to VERY hot (i was barley able to hold it), and that made no differnce..

Can anyone tell me how i get the bloody belt on the car?

Frustrating.

 

[JonB]

Sorry cant help But why put a Rubber belt in the oven, surely that will only damage said belt.
there must be a bolt & slide adjuster somewhere!!

 

[Stivino]

You say in your third paragraph that it has a wheel for tension. If it has a big nut in the middle of it, try turning that anti-clockwise with a spanner. It might be an automatic tensioner.

 

[chapmad2]

Sorry cant help But why put a Rubber belt in the oven, surely that will only damage said belt.
there must be a bolt & slide adjuster somewhere!!

Engines produces more than a little heat... was just trying to warm it up.

 

[chapmad2]

You say in your third paragraph that it has a wheel for tension. If it has a big nut in the middle of it, try turning that anti-clockwise with a spanner. It might be an automatic tensioner.

Thanks, thats teh pointer i need i think...

It does have a nut on it, just need a closer look in daylight now. And that would make perfect sense as the option...

Hope your right...

Cheers for teh pionter guys..

 

[chapmad2]

The Wheel is spring loaded...

So, when i lift it with a spanner, it moves to the left, and gives me more slack..

Unfortunately, i can't move it quite far enough.

Its only a 1/2 CM slack out.. Maybe i have the wrong belt.. they had a lot of troubled matching it up...

Any more ideas... does the spring that its attached to untention as well?

It seems a little bit too much brute force approach at the mo..



Very frustrated...

 

[Stivino]

The wheel needs to have a strong spring to keep the correct tension on the belt.
Did you try turning the central bolt clockwise, like the Vauxhalls? I think I originally said anti-clockwise.

 

[JonB]

Dear chapmad
I hope you get it sorted, but I would check that the belt is still supple after you have baked it!! It could even have been singed.

 

[FredFlintstone]

The tensioner wheel is the most likely one you need to rely on as others hve said but you could also check the alternator to see if it's mounted on a sliding mount.

Unlike the Commodore / Omega, the Holden Astra is identical to the Vauxhall Astra other than the name.

Regards

Fred

 

[chapmad2]

Dear chapmad
I hope you get it sorted, but I would check that the belt is still supple after you have baked it!! It could even have been singed.

I only heated it up for about 5 mins. i could still touch it with my hands.... engine produces a LOT more heat than the 60 degrees C that I got it to...

I was trying to make it stretch a little... not enough though... used hot water in the end, as it was easier to manage.....

No harm done that i can see...

In the end, I've got it checked in at the garage tommorow.. only 1 hours work max.. probably 10 mins for a mechanic.. so it will only cost me $50 bucks to get it sorted, as i already got a belt.



thanks for the help guys.. it did get me a lot further, but for the sake of saving $50 dollars labour, im gonna stop mucking about and get a garage to fit the belt..