What is graphite grease used for? What is graphite lubricant used for?

Absolutely any more or less experienced driver knows that the correct tension of the alternator belt will ensure a reliable power supply to the vehicle’s on-board network and good power supply, which is so important when starting the engine. A weakly tensioned belt can slip relative to the generator pulley and quickly break due to heat, and a strongly tensioned belt creates a large load on the generator rotor shaft bearings and the pump, as a result of which they quickly fail.

As you understand, such a parameter as belt tension should always be within normal limits. To check the belt tension, you can use a metal strip half a meter long and a simple ruler. Almost all domestic cars allow a deflection of the belt, which is formed between the generator pulley and the crankshaft, equal to 15 millimeters. The force, in this case, should not exceed 10 kg/cm.

Procedure:

1. To measure the tension of the alternator belt, place a thin metal strip in the gap between the crankshaft pulley and the alternator.

2. Act on the belt, pulling it away from the strip using your fingers.

3. Measure the distance from the highest position of the alternator belt to the metal strip.

The resulting value will mean the deflection of the generator belt. If it has any deviations from the norm, then it will be necessary to adjust the generator belt or replace it, depending on the degree of belt wear.

Alternator Belt Adjustment

So, if you have come to the conclusion that the tension of the alternator belt is insufficient or excessive, then you need to start making adjustments. It is done quite simply, so you can do without car service employees.

Procedure:

1. Place the vehicle on a level surface and prevent any accidental movement. The presence of an inspection hole is not at all necessary, however, if your car is of the “classic” family, then it is better to use a hole. Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to avoid accidental short circuits of live parts of the engine compartment (wires, plugs and housings of metal elements).

2. Loosen the nut located on the generator adjustment bar. There is no need to unscrew it too much, since you only need to free the generator from its fastening. Do the same with the bottom nut. It is screwed onto a long bolt, which is the main fastening of any generator.

3. Insert a pry bar into the gap between the engine and the generator and bend the generator, creating the necessary force on the belt. Without slackening the applied force, tighten the adjusting bar nut as tightly as possible. After this, check the belt tension as described above. If the measurement result is not correct, loosen the nut again and repeat the tension.

4. Once the belt tension is correct Maintenance, then tighten the nut on the long bolt. This completes the alternator belt adjustment.

Video - How to tighten or loosen a VAZ alternator belt

If tensioning the generator belt is impossible due to severe wear of the rubber component, it is necessary to replace the belt. is relevant when the belt is stretched or has any defects in the form of burrs and cracks. In addition, during operation, it can emit a characteristic whistle, by which it is not difficult to determine its faulty condition.

Before replacing, purchase exactly the same alternator belt. A product from another car model will not fit in any way - you need to remember this carefully.

Procedure:

1. Place the car on a flat surface and immobilize it. The presence of an inspection hole, as in the first case, is not mandatory, but a desirable condition. Be sure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.

2. Loosen the nut used to secure the generator to the adjusting bar. After this, loosen the nut that tightens the long bolt from the bottom of the generator.

3. Pull the alternator towards the engine and remove the old belt.

4. Installing a new belt looks more difficult. The most important thing is to make every effort, without damaging the product. First, it is recommended to put the belt on the crankshaft pulley, then on the generator pulley. If there is a water pump pulley, last of all, put the belt on the pump pulley.

5. After this, tension the belt and tighten all loose nuts. Don't forget to reinstall the battery terminal.

This is how you check the tension of the generator belt, adjust it and replace it. This complex The procedure is basic and is performed with a standard set of automotive tools. This does not require special knowledge, so you can check the belt tension yourself.

If a characteristic whistle is heard from under the hood when starting the engine, at the start of driving, or when changing gears, which disappears after increasing engine speed, it’s time to pay attention to the alternator belt. If the warning light in the form of a battery on the dashboard does not go out after starting the engine or lights up while driving, then most likely the belt has already failed.

Checking the condition of the generator drive belt and tension roller

Even if you haven’t heard a characteristic sound from under the hood, it’s hard not to notice a broken alternator belt - this can be understood both by the light on the dashboard and by a noticeable decrease in the power of all electrical equipment. However, similar symptoms may be the result of damage to the wiring, or failure of the generator, so it is still worth checking that there is no belt on the pulley by visual inspection.

Ideally, it is not worth bringing the drive belt to such a state where it simply roars due to excessive wear. To do this, it is necessary to periodically check its condition. This will not be difficult to do, because the belt is clearly visible when the hood is opened. You just need to look at it, for example, while adding fluid to the washer reservoir. If abrasions, cracks, peeling, cuts or other damage are found on the surface, it is necessary replace alternator belt .

To check the condition of the generator belt tension roller, you need to listen to its operation when the engine is running. If a distinct crunch, squeak or whistle is heard on the right side, while the belt is in normal condition, you need to turn off the engine, remove the belt (by the way, this will allow you to see it better) and turn the roller by hand. If it turns out that it is he who is making the extraneous sounds, the part needs to be replaced. Otherwise, it is worth checking the timing belt tension roller and pump.

Checking the tension of the generator drive belt

In some cases, low charging current generated by the alternator may cause the drive belt to slip along the pulley due to insufficient tension. You can check the tension by applying a force of 10 kgf in the area between the crankshaft pulley and the generator. In this case, the belt should bend by about 1 cm. If the deflection is greater, the belt must be tightened by adjusting the position of the tension roller.

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Belt tension can also be controlled when tightening the tension mechanism pin. To do this, you can rotate the key using a regular steelyard - a simple spring scale. When its readings reach 2 kg, tightening the stud must be stopped.

Timely checking the alternator belt and its tension allows you to prevent battery discharge, as well as the need to replace the drive belt in “hiking conditions”. You can check the condition of the drive belt tension roller by rotating it, preferably without load. The appearance of extraneous sounds indicates severe wear.

Checking the condition, adjusting the tension and replacing drive belts

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

Checking status

Drive belts, sometimes called 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 characteristics of the material and operating conditions, drive belts fail after some time, and therefore their condition should be periodically checked and the tension adjusted to avoid serious damage to the engine.

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 alternator, steering pump, water pump and air conditioning compressor. Depending on the arrangement of the pulleys, a single belt can drive multiple components at once. On illustrations shows the location of the injection engine belts, on illustrations Shows how both belts are routed on a carburetor engine when power steering (servo steering) is installed. 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 compressed more than specified, adjustment must be made.

Location of drive belts on an injection engine. Check the tension at the places indicated by arrows

Location of drive belts on a carburetor engine with power steering. Check the tension in the places indicated by arrows

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 strap placement is different, the adjustments are the same. Loosen the locking bolt on the side of the tensioner and turn the corresponding adjusting bolt until the tension is at the required value. Retighten the bolt and check the tension.

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

In some cases, you will have to remove more than one belt due to their location at the front of the engine. Therefore, and also because belts tend to fail at the same time, it is best to replace them at the same time. Mark each belt and its corresponding groove on the pulley to ensure proper installation of new belts.

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

Check the tension of new belts after driving several hundred kilometers.

Incorrect alternator belt tension can cause a lack of charging. The ability to determine the correct tension force will be useful both for DIY repairs and if the indicator lights up on the dashboard low level charging the battery.

Excessive force will lead to rapid failure of the generator bearings. A breakdown in the initial stage manifests itself as a hum from the generator. When replacing a belt, it is advisable to check the condition of the bearing. To do this, unscrew the pulley by hand. Rotation should occur evenly and silently. If a hum still appears during engine operation, you can remove the belt, and then for 10-15 seconds. start the engine. This way you can determine whether the noise is coming from the alternator bearing or timing rollers.

Insufficient tension leads to belt slippage and accelerated wear. The first sign of such a malfunction manifests itself as a squeak when cold or when wet. Excessive stretching will result in no charging. This is why it is important to know how to check the tension of the alternator belt.

There are two types of generator drive:

How to determine the correct tension level:

Let’s look at how to properly install a car’s alternator belt using the example of two types of construction:

• loosen the tensioner bolt by unscrewing the locknut. Rotating the bolt itself will tighten and loosen the belt. After setting the tension, secure the tensioner bolt with a wrench and tighten the locknut;
• loosen the bolts securing the generator to the brackets. Place a pin between the generator housing and the engine. Pull the belt using lever force, after which you can tighten the generator fastenings;
• in systems with a single service belt drive, tensioning can be carried out automatically. The design contains a special tensioner, to loosen it you need to loosen the roller bolt and then remove the tensioner using a wrench.

In the case of a ripple belt, before making a final check of the tension level, start and stop the engine. This will ensure that the belt is in the correct position in the pulley grooves.