Alternator belt replacement

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524tdAviator
Posts: 344
Joined: Nov 05, 2011 11:30 PM
Location: San Diego, CA

Alternator belt replacement

Post by 524tdAviator »

Need advice on replacing the alternator belt. I'm not used to working on BMWs so I want to make sure I'm doing it right. The belt is squeeling like a pig again. It being loose seems to be the cause of my overheating problems and battery charging problems - under freeway speeds the coolant temp will climb towards the red zone causing me to pull over the other day and let it cool and limp to work on backroads at 25 MPH. At those speeds it hovered around the 12:30 to 1 o'clock position of the temp gauge. It only runs hot when the alternator belt was loose.

I tightened the belt all the way to the maximum adjustment possible with the cog gear adjuster behind the alternator. This fixed the problem but it's only temporary. The belt appears to have exceeded it's useful life. So, I bought a Contitech alternator belt from Pelican Parts (10x1005 size) and need some advice on how to change it. I'm changing it in the employee parking lot at the airport so I can get it out of there.

From taking a look at the engine bay, I believe all I have to do is remove the fan, loosen the alternator position towards the passenger side of the car, get the belt off the alternator, and finally the belt off the fan pulley center. Then install new belt and repeat steps in reverse. Is this pretty much it?
demetk
Posts: 8431
Joined: Aug 09, 2007 8:58 AM
Location: CT, USA

Post by demetk »

That's about it, but don't you have two other belts in the way?
524tdAviator
Posts: 344
Joined: Nov 05, 2011 11:30 PM
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by 524tdAviator »

demetk wrote:That's about it, but don't you have two other belts in the way?
Oh yes, that's right. The A/C belt was removed a while ago, I think that's the first one. Isn't the PS pump belt the second, and then finally the Alternator/WP the third? How difficult is it to remove the the PS pump belt?
demetk
Posts: 8431
Joined: Aug 09, 2007 8:58 AM
Location: CT, USA

Post by demetk »

I usually remove the ps belt from underneath the car, but you may be able to reach the adjusting bolt from above. It's easier to move if you loosen the two pivot bolts.

Don't forget the pivot bolt for the alternator also.
524tdAviator
Posts: 344
Joined: Nov 05, 2011 11:30 PM
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by 524tdAviator »

demetk wrote:I usually remove the ps belt from underneath the car, but you may be able to reach the adjusting bolt from above. It's easier to move if you loosen the two pivot bolts.

Don't forget the pivot bolt for the alternator also.
Do I still have to remove the fan? Or can I slip the alternator belt over the fan to remove and replace both belts? (I'm assuming if I get the PS belt off I can get the new alternator belt around it while briefly off the pulley).
524tdAviator
Posts: 344
Joined: Nov 05, 2011 11:30 PM
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by 524tdAviator »

It's fixed! Took me only 20 minutes. I did not remove the fan - I was able to get the old belt around the power steering belt and then around the fan and in reverse to install the new belt. Thanks to Frybrid 524td and everyone else for the help.
Phil DM
Posts: 4
Joined: Nov 12, 2022 12:33 PM
Location: Georgia

Re: Alternator belt replacement

Post by Phil DM »

Do you have a video hos to replace all of the belts or the Power steering belt?
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