[Vwdiesel] A-2 Alternator Belt Loosening

[Nate Wall]

Thanks Fernando. I run mine a little on the loose side too.

Fernando Fiore wrote:

> Hi there,
>
> I have an 84 rabbit, but have seen the setup you all are talking about,
> which is the same as mine except for the extra tensioner wheel.  I  always
> thought they fixed the problem with the extra tensioner but I guess not.  I
> had free Gates belts at my disposal, which always got chewed up quickly.
> when I went to school, I got a foreign aftermarket belt which seemed to work
> much better, along with my experience of not tightening the belt soo much.
> The problem is, as already stated, is that the belt falls into the groove
> which tears the top portion of the V belt, making it fall further into the
> V.  My last belt change (I did all of them, the right way) I put a
> Continental belt on it and it has been fine, tightening the belt very
> carefully as I have learned.  The belt will flap a little at idle but it is
> due more to the vibration of the engine more than anything.  The belt has
> never squealed since installation, which was 4 months ago today.  So, maybe
> part of my suggestion is to retrofit to the rabbit setup which has no
> tensioner pulley, but pivots the alternator.  All you would have to get is
> that upper alt. bracket.  Then, you would have more contact surface on the
> alt pulley as well, making the belt not have to be so tight.  That is my
> experience.
>
> Fernando Fiore, "Nando"
>
> 84 VW Rabbit Diesel "GTI"
> 1/4= 21.249 @ 60.95mph
>
> 81 Audi 5000S Diesel
> 1/4= N/A
>
> >From: "Anton Largiader" <largiader at worldlynx.net>
> >To: "Nate Wall" <nwall at opei.org>, <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] A-2 Alternator Belt Loosening
> >Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 14:54:10 -0500
> >
> >It's because your 85TD has an absolute abomination for an alternator drive
> >design.  My dad has the same problems, as have many on this list.  Tension
> >changes in no time, the belt wears excessively...  heard it all before,
> >experienced it all before, and haven't found a fix.  One issue is that
> >replacement alternators often have the wrong pulley offset, and another is
> >that it's hard to buy the correct belt.
> >
> >If I thought his car would make it another 5 years or so, I'd find a way to
> >retrofit the WONDERFUL serpentine accessory drive from the A3 Jetta to his
> >engine.  No belt tension worries, ever.  Might require the use of an A3
> >alternator, and maybe other accessories, but that's not exactly a hardship
> >if you can find them on a wreck.
> >
> >Sorry to have no answers, but I have to vent regularly about this.  I'm all
> >ears to see if someone actually has a solution to the 85TD alternator belt
> >problem.
> >
> >
> >
> >==============================================
> >Anton Largiader, Chester Springs, PA
> >'94 K75RT, '93 R100GSPD,  '94 R1100RSA, '98 Jetta TDI
> >'00 XR400R    anton at largiader.com   http://largiader.com
> >==============================================
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Nate Wall" <nwall at opei.org>
> >
> > > Last night after rounding a corner, my trusty Jetta TD ...
> >
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