Replace Alternator Belt

Unless you open the hood of your car and peep inside, you cannot appreciate the complex machine that the car is. There are various systems and subsystems that power a car forward and give you control. There are various small devices and components like the car alternator belt, that make its working possible. This article talks about how to replace alternator belts, in case they are worn out and beyond repair.

What is the Function of a Car Alternator Belt?
A car alternator is the car's dynamo. A car alternator is useless without the proper working of the alternator belt. An alternator belt distributes the torque generated by the car engine to drive the dynamo, which is the car alternator. As the car runs ahead, the engine torque drives the alternator belt, which in turn, drives the alternator, to produce electricity. This generated electricity replenishes the charge used up in the car battery. Thus, the alternator belt is an important car part, in the power assembly of an automobile.

When to Replace Alternator Belt?
The only way you can know when to replace an alternator belt is through inspecting it personally. Firstly, locate the alternator and the belt that runs it. If you find the belt to be cracked, loose or torn, then it is time you got the alternator belt replaced. A loose belt can result in lowered alternator output, as the torque from the car's crankshaft is not fully transported through the driver belt to the alternator.

How to Replace Alternator Belt?
Now that we know something about the working of an alternator belt, we can talk about how to replace alternator belt easily. The tools you'll need to replace the alternator belt are a socket wrench set and a prybar, that can help you in prying things off. Make sure that the new alternator belt you buy, is of the same type as the old one.

Let us begin with the procedure of replacing an alternator belt. Since, the belts used in a car mechanism are interrelated, there are some other belts that you must remove before you can replace alternator belt. Make sure that you keep track of what was where, before removing things, as you have to put them back later!

First thing to do is, open the hood of the car and locate a device called the power steering pump. The thing we need to look for is a tensioner bolt, that keeps the steering pump belt taut. It is normally located on the bottom of the steering pump.

Next thing to do is to look for a wrench of the right size, to loosen this tensioner bolt. Loosen it till you are easily able to remove the power steering belt.

Look for the tensioner bolt on the AC compressor and remove the AC tensioner belt. Now you can go for the removal of the alternator belt. After you locate the alternator adjustment bolt, use an appropriate size wrench to slowly loosen the bolt. Loosen it until the alternator is fairly loose, which will enable you to take the alternator belt off the pulleys that drive it. Then place the new alternator belt in exactly the same position as the old belt. Take care that it is properly wrapped around the pulleys.

By using the prybar, get the alternator back into its old position. Next we need to restore the tautness of the alternator belt. This is achieved by tightening the adjustment bolt of the alternator. Keep tightening until the alternator belt has enough tension and tautness.

Next fix the AC compressor belt and the power steering pump belt back as it was before and ensure that their tension is restored through adjustment. This is the end of the procedure to replace alternator belt.

Hope this article has given you a rough idea of how to replace alternator belt on your own. Cost to replace alternator belt can be lesser, when you replace the belt on your own. Do it only after you have made a thorough study of the architecture of your car's internal structure and its working. You should at least understand the working of the alternator and a rough understanding of what goes where. Take help from the car manual. Only then, can you pull off this job confidently!