alternator belt

[jonesblakey]

i have to change the alternator/auxhiliary belt on my 2.0l estate glx it is a s reg 1998 model.....D8 i believe its called.....i moved the ecu out of the way and now im at a bit of a loss as to what to do next......can't seem to find the tensioner is it near the bottom and do i need to take wheel of and remove wheel arch cover to get to the tensioner or is there a way to get a spanner down there to move it so i can get new belt on???? any help would be gratefully received as i don't wanna get charged a fortune at a garage to replace such a simple belt

[OdinEidolon]

remove wheel and wheelarch seems the better way, it only takes 5 minutes!

[piglet]

wot he said, life will become much clearer when you get the arch liner out, Just in case you don't know (I didn't) the plastic fasteners release by pushing the centre in, then you pull the centre out again to refit.
Get a torch and look at what the position holes are doing on the spring tensioner arm, I think the idea is you are supposed to lock the spring arm with a bolt/pin/allen key whilst you set the belt tension with the manual tensioner.
Someone shoot me down if I'm wrong.

[lozz]

wot he said, life will become much clearer when you get the arch liner out, Just in case you don't know (I didn't) the plastic fasteners release by pushing the centre in, then you pull the centre out again to refit.
Get a torch and look at what the position holes are doing on the spring tensioner arm, I think the idea is you are supposed to lock the spring arm with a bolt/pin/allen key whilst you set the belt tension with the manual tensioner.
Someone shoot me down if I'm wrong.

Thats the correct way on the HDIS
but ithink op as d8 Might be differnt,

[jonesblakey]

thanks for advice guys.....gonna have a go over the weekend as i need a trolley jack......don.t trust the jacks you get with cars....which im sure would be strong enuff to hold the car while i do it and since im the only one who can drive to the hospital dnt fancy the car falling on me!