Subject: 89 200 tqa - alternator belt keeps breaking

[C1J1Miller@aol.com]

Samir Shah wrote:
-----------------------------------
Well, this afternoon the 200 lost its 5th alternator belt during my 5
month ownership tenure. Any idea why this keeps happening? Is there a
trick to this? 
This has happened with many different brands of belts - including an 
Audi branded Gates (Made in the USA), and Continental (made in Germany).
This last one lasted a whole month!
When I put them in, I need to use a lot of leverage to get it tight
enough that it does not squeal, which seems very unusual. I've put in a
new nut and bolt too.
I actually was under the car this morning, changing the cat, and checked
the belt - it was looser than when I had installed it a few weeks ago.
Am I supposed to retighten it in a week or so? Do they get loose with
break-in?
The alternator is a rebuilt unit that looks quite fresh. It spins
freely, and generates stable power. Does not make any funny noises
normally.
Luckily this happened with me in the car, and the baby had just been
fed. It'd be a real disaster if this happened to my wife when she had
the baby with her. I now carry 2 extra belts, + all needed tools to
change it, in the car, but I still don't feel confident enough about the
car to turn it back over to my wife. 
Thanks in advance. I am getting very stressed about this car. Samir.
--------------------------------------------
Strangely enough, I helped change an alternator belt several times 
yesterday...on a 90q20v.  Couple pointers:  
one, there is a star-shaped gear/bolt that engages the toothed arm holding 
the alternator (22mm?), that can be turned to adjust tension.  The bolt has 
an outer bolt (13mm) that locks it in place.
Two:  the other pivot on the alternator uses a bolt on both the front and 
rear of the alternator (17mm?); make sure you loosen/tighten them both; 
otherwise, you might lose belt tension over time.
Three:  I've got a gates belt here by the keyboard; it says tighten, run 5 
minutes, then retighten.  I wouldn't go super tight, as that would over 
stress the bearings.
Four:  You may have glazed the pulleys that the belt runs across.  Try 
roughing them up slightly.  Also make sure that they are perfectly in line 
with each other, and neither pulley "wobbles" while idling.  It's a rebuilt 
unit; if they used the wrong one, it might not line up 100%, and wear out the 
belts.
HTH, chris miller, windham nh, c1j1miller@aol.com
'91 200q20v ==> http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/index.html