A Belt Has Slipped A Groove

[Are_thirty_two]

As the topic says, I have a belt depicted which has slipped 1 groove/tooth. The belt is shown in the picture below. It is this part/cam which has slipped, but the other part/cam which it connects to, is in place, creating an angle in the belt.

The top right pic shows how the belt should be in place and the bottom shows the slip on my car.

Im pretty worried the tension created may break the belt, which will be disastrous.

Questions are how do I shift it back in place safely? Also do you think the situation needs adressing asap?

Edited January 1, 2006 by Are_thirty_two

[predator]

It looks like your power steering belt? Loosen up the power steering pump and slide it back, put belt back into position, slide pump back, tighten.

At worse, if it snaps you'll lose power steering. It won't damage the engine.

Your timing belt isn't in the engine bay, its behind another cover - it sounds like that is what you're referring to.

[paulr33]

if it was my car i would just take it to a mechanic straight away and get it sorted, not worth risking. i believe if the timing belt fails / comes off / snaps then you crown the pistons and kill them = $$$

[Are_thirty_two]

it is indeed the power steering belt as I just checked it on the manual.

But where is the power steering pump to adjust it? is it located in front of the crank pulley?

[Cubes]

Get the crank end float checked out.

And cross your fingers it was simply put on incorrect.

Edited December 17, 2005 by Cubes

[Are_thirty_two]

i have edited the pic and have an actual pic of the situation on the car. you can see the slip in the belt.

i need to know where the steering wheel pump is or the bolt to adjust it.

[Cubes]

Have you had the crank end float looked at?

Its common if you have excessive crank endfloat to throw belts the way you are. My old man owned an EA falcon that did the same, as did a mate of mine who owned an ED falcon. Motor still appeared to run fine, no knocks etc.. It did require a rebuild before anything major occured.

[Are_thirty_two]

my mechanic has been on holiday since christmas and i dont know when hell be back, thats why im asking here.

when you say rebuild, do you mean on the engine or on the crank end float?

how much did it cost your dad and mate to fix, and was it a big job or a one day job?

[foznice]

well if it was put on incorrectly as cubes previously mentioned, you can just take it off and put it back on properly. Check the belt for damage before you put it back on.

there are 3 bolts you need to undo to loose the tension and then remove the belt:

First is the long bolt, it's underneath and to the right of the PS pump, it goes in horizontally. you will probably have to remove a piece of intercooler piping to get to it. You have to loosen this bolt right up (don't actually remove it). The more room on this bolt, the further the distance of the pivot and the easier it is to remove the belt.

The second bolt is pretty much directly underneath the pump itself. you WILL have to attack it from underneath by removing the tray first. This bolt holds and secures the long bolt in place.

The third bolt is the pivot bolt. It's located behind the pump wheel.. There are holes in the wheel/pulley so that you can access the pivot bolt. Make sure that this hole lines up with the pivot bolt (by cranking the engine) before loosening the other two. The pivot bolt when loosened, allows the powersteering pump to pivot like a hinge.. you push it down and it sort of rollls inwards, loosening the tension on the belt.

[Are_thirty_two]

thanx for the detailed reply. much appreciated.

i may have a go at it, but this one sounds like one for the mechanic.

[Cubes]

If the motor has excessive crank end float its a full rebuild..

Cheaper to drop another s/h motor in to it.

It may not be that.. just something to definitely check as belts slipping off is a symptom.

[Cubes]

I was young at the time but I do remember the mechanic grabbed a crow bar and attempted to move the harmonic balancer away from the motor towards the radiator.

If stuffed a little pressure you will see the harmonic balancer move away from the motor.. hence excessive crank end float, the harmonic balancer should not be able to be moved back and forth.

Edited January 1, 2006 by Cubes

[Duncan]

Another thing is to make sure that the power steer pulley and the crank pulley are lined up correctly. it can be caused the the power steering pulley not sitting directly in line with the crank pulley.

Its not too hard to put the belt back on, but you also have to tighten up the belt again afterwards

[gt-t_r34]

this happened on my r32 and we just got a crowbar and lifted it abit and pushed it back across hasnt happen again this was about 10 months ago...

[benl1981]

This happened on my R33 as when I did the timing belt I left the power steer one a bit loose. It may be just that the belt wasnt tight enough. I tightened mine up and it hasnt done it again.

It's a fiddly job to adjust it. You need a small 10mm spanner to get in there and. You need to undo the centre cocking nut and ease off the adjustment bolt (you need many turns on this. A very small ratchet spanner would be the way to go. I was there for about 10mins on this one as the radiator gets in the way stopping you turning it much)

Reposition the belt on the pulley properly then tighen up the adjustment bolt and once adequate tension then tighten the centre locking nut.

Edited January 1, 2006 by benl1981