Checking the condition, adjusting the tension and replacing the drive belts

Twice a year or every 10,000 km (what comes first).

Status check

Drive belts, sometimes referred to as V-belts, are located at the front of the engine and play an important role in the operation of the vehicle and its individual components. Due to the nature of the material and operating conditions, drive belts fail after a while, and therefore their condition should be checked and adjusted periodically to prevent serious engine damage.

The number of belts used on a particular vehicle depends on the units and systems installed on it. Drive belts are used to drive the generator, steering pump, water pump and air conditioning compressor. Depending on the location of the pulleys, one belt can drive several components at once. On illustrations the location of the belts of the injection engine is shown, on illustrations shows how both carbureted engine belts are routed when power steering is installed (servo control). If no booster is installed, only one belt is used. If the air conditioner shown in illustrations, the belt between the generator and the crankshaft also drives the compressor. If the belt is pressed more than specified, it is necessary to carry out an adjustment.






1. Turn off the engine, open the hood and look for the various drive belts at the front of the engine. Check belt tension only on a cold engine. If the engine is hot, at least 30 minutes must elapse before checking the tension.



Some of the most common drive belt defects (check the condition of the belts very carefully to avoid premature breakage).

2. Fingers (and using a flashlight if necessary) Walk the length of each strap, feeling for cracks or splits. Also check the belts for wear and polished areas. Each belt must be inspected from both sides, which means that it must be twisted to check the condition of the wrong side.


3. The tension of the belt is checked by firmly pressing on it with your thumb and determining the degree of its deflection. The belt tension is checked in the place indicated by the arrow in the illustration in the middle between the pulleys. Measure the deflection with a ruler. The rule of thumb states that if the distance between the centers of the pulleys is from 180 to 280 mm, then the amount of deflection should be 6 mm. If the distance between the centers of the pulleys is between 300 and 400 mm, the deflection should be 13 mm. If the tension differs from that given in Specifications, make the adjustment.



Measure drive belt deflection with a straightedge and flatness gauge.

4. Make sure the ruler is perpendicular to the flatness gauge

Adjustment

If it is necessary to adjust the belt tension in the direction of increasing or decreasing it, this is done by the tensioner. Although the location of the belts is different, the adjustment is carried out in the same way. Loosen the locking bolt on the side of the tensioner and turn the appropriate adjusting bolt until the tension is correct. Retighten the bolt and check the tension.

Replacement

To replace the belt, follow the adjustment instructions above, but remove the belt from the pulleys.

In some cases, you will need to remove more than one belt due to the way they are located at the front of the engine. Therefore, and also because belts tend to fail at the same time, it is also best to replace them at the same time. Mark each belt and its corresponding groove on the pulley to properly install new belts.

When buying new belts, it is convenient to take old belts with you so that you can directly compare them in length, width and design.

Check the tension of new belts after several hundred kilometers.