[Vwdiesel] winter hijinks

[Val Christian]

I have an A2, which has eaten a few belts.  Sticking to Continental's
harder belts helps.  I once used a belt from Autozone, which was
softer, and "the correct replacement".  It lasted 30 minutes with
the AC on and the rear defogger on.  The harder belts last several
years or 60Kmiles+.  The only other trick is getting the belt tight
enough so that it usually doesn't chirp or slip, but not too tight.
The misalignment on mine is about 2mm (best I could measure).  If it
were 4mm, I think I'd look at shimming the altenator pulley.  The
washer on my altenator is about 3mm thick, hence, I decided not to
double those up.

Also, talking belts...I find that there's inadequate detensioning for
the compressor belt.  To get it on and off the compressor, I start it
with a screwdriver, and walk it on or off the pulley by either
turning the wheel in 5th gear, or pushing the car in 5th gear.
Perhaps you've had the same experience.

You might consider using the VW or Continental belt, if it helps
make your wheels more reliable.

BTW, I tighten so that the altenator pulley just begins to slip if you
try moving the car by turning the altenator.  The belt on the compressor
slips less, as it's a larger belt.

Good luck.




>
> Well, here in Dallas, we got our every now and then icing.  Neither the
> state nor the city own a snowplow, so you can imagine the fun that
> followed.  Only problem I had was weaving my way between all the trucks
> and SUV's that were all over the place.  Particular idiots think that if
> the highway is too slow, they'll just cut across the median to get to
> the service road.  Some people I might offer to help push out, but I
> really think those people need the time to sit and think about exactly
> how stupid that was.
>
> Fate laughed back, though, and ate my alternator belt on the way into
> work.  No real problem, I have a spare set of belts.  Wasn't real happy
> to be doing it in the 20 degree parking lot of a sewer plant, though.
>  Now, anybody else out there with an A2 Diesel with a/c have a problem
> of eating alternator belts?  I'm pretty sure the problem is pulley
> mis-alignment.  The alternator is about 4mm off the plane of the other
> two pulleys.  I think the alternator is stock, Bosch and everything.
>  Last time I rebuilt it, I tried everything I could think of in
> re-arranging the pulley hardware to get the thing in-line, but to no
> avail.  I have lifetime belts so the money's not a problem, but it's
> annoying, happens at inopportune times, and this time there was nothing
> left of the belt so I may have to look for a while to find a blown belt
> in the road for an exchange.
>
> Any ideas how to arrange the pulleys?
>
> -Shalyn
>
> -85 Jetta TD
>
>
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