TeamCapri
Tech, Repairs, Upgrades => Capri N/A 89-94 => Topic started by: 350boatracing on September 18, 2014, 11:11:58 AM
-
I drove my 4/91 capri for almost 2 months when the belt broke one day with no warning. I had a garage put one on. As soon as I started the car it squeeled non stop for about 10 minutes until the second belt broke. I drove the car home and got a dayco and put it on. The car ran with no squeeling (only occasionally) for about 2 weeks until it broke again. The first break i don't know what the belt looked like after. After the second break the belt had no signs of wear. On this last break the belt looked like it wore on one side for about the whole length of the belt. My buddy watched me put it on said it looked too wide from the get go. I read about the 2 different alternators that go on these cars. So I called mazda and the guy said it looks like up until 4/91 the alternators were bosch, after 4/91 mitsubishi. He also said it looks like all the belts have the same part number for both alternators. I have a couple questions:
1. What's the oem belt number?
2. If my car was on the diving date of 4/91 which alternator should it have?
Later I will pull mine if needed but I don't want to until I get some other facts.
-
Early 91's have the Bosch unit (has external cooling fins), later cars have the Mitsubishi (no visible fins), both used the same belt. Not exactly interchangeable, plug connectors into units are different.
Original alternators in good shape will not give you problems in shredding belts.
It doesn't matter what alternator came with the car, just what is in it now. Many aftermarket alternators use a different pulley that is not quite right, making keeping a belt on a challenge.
This doesn't sound like the usual belt issue the Capri's have. Constant squealing then breaking (from overheating) then wearing on one side seems to indicate an alignment issue. If the water pump was starting to fail, that pulley could be out of alignment with the crank and alternator pulley. If the alternator mount has worn, that pulley could be misaligned. If either water pump or alternator is binding internally, that could also wear the belt quickly.
Pull the belt, use a straight edge to verify pulleys are in line. While the alternator is loose, check for play at the mounting joint, should be 0 play
-
Thanks for the reply. the first break there was no overheating i think they over tightened it. That aside, i had a buddy send pics of alternators off 2 newer capris and the pullies look the same as what I have on my 91. I used a lazer edge and the pullies seem to look inline with it although with the naked eye the alternator pulley looks to side a little sideways. I will pull it and check. I've read tons of posts online with similar issues to this, people with belts lasting 5 months to belts breaking instantly.
-
I also felt to make sure the alt and water pump pullies spin freely.
-
I pulled the alternator with dissapointing news (I was hoping it was just the wrong one). It IS actually a mitsubishi. #90JA-10200-AA and it does have 04/91 Al stamped on it. What in the world could the problem be?
-
Check to see if the crank pulley has a wobble. B6 motors up until 09/91 had the small nose crank and were prone to keyway failure.
-
I've read about this before but can't remember. how can you tell about crank pulley wobble? if the belt is off will it move by hand? or do you have to see it run?
JJ
-
Watch the crank pulley while it is running while goosing the throttle. If the car is a late 91( after Sept build ) or newer this is a non issue as the cranks were upgraded.
-
Watch the crank pulley while it is running while goosing the throttle. If the car is a late 91( after Sept build ) or newer this is a non issue as the cranks were upgraded.
Mine was made 09/91. Does that mean I'm screwed? :D
-
get anywhere on this? alternators can be a touchy subject. If you put the belt in the pulley, how far down does it go? is it below the top of the pully so it sits down in the v? or does the belt stick way over the top?
-
It should be flush with the top of the pulley. Tension is the key. You don't want it too loose or too tight. I went with about 3/8" deflection both ways on the long stretch. I had some rubber dust at first but that quickly cleared up.
Manufacturer is another. I bought a Dayco off Amazon. It's still holding up well 15 months later.
-
The alt on my car kept breaking belts. When I put my working belt from my working alternator in that pulley, it was a good 1/3" to 1/2" below top of the pulley. I also swapped the top bent arm bracket. it looked like a hare off from mine, so could have put the alternator off center, but i'm not sure what would have solely done it...
-
hey guys this belt works perfect for me, and you can order from pep boys with DAYCO part number 15350
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=962496&cc=1196636
-
hey guys this belt works perfect for me, and you can order from pep boys with DAYCO part number 15350
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=962496&cc=196636
Yeah that's the one. All my belts are Dayco.
JJ, I went out and looked at mine. It sits at most 3/16" below the top of the alternator pulley but it only sits 1/16" below the top of the water pump and crank pulley. It could be a difference of belt manufacturers. Alignment is very important. Looking at the manual the Bosch has a two piece pulley and it has a dish shaped washer behind it. The manual makes special note that the washer is put on correctly with the dish top towards the fan blades. Is it a reman? Maybe they screwed up and left the washer out or it's facing the wrong way? Maybe they replaced it with a flat washer? It's a 8mm Allen wrench and 29mm wrench to take the pulley off and inspect. It torques back 40-50 ft lbs.
-
ya, mine is fine now. I'm just noting to people if their belt is too low, it's prob the pulley or pulley placement.
-
Be sure that after you tighten the bolt for adjustment on top of the alternator you also tighten and torque (as per the manual) the lower alternator bolt that it pivots on as well. I did this and have never had an issue with the alternator belt again and im running the aftermarket pulley you get on one from autozone :)
That top bolt is just not enough to hold it
-
My first alternator belt lasted about 22 months (2 weeks ago). My bottom bolt backed out in that time because I never torqued it. The head of the bolt chewed the belt up to a thread. I changed the belt on the road and didn't really have anything good with me to pry on the alternator to get good tension. It wasn't long the belt would squeak here and there.
I kept procrastinating until the belt broke a couple nights ago in the worst place and at the worst time. I was on top a mountain 10 miles from anywhere when I heard it snap. My gauge quickly dropped to battery power and it's about 9:30pm. Do I turn around and make it to the closest town? Since I was on the EST/CST time line I opted to turn around and find the nearest parts store. Luckily with my lights dimming I made it to an AutoZone with 5 minutes to closing. Luckily again they had several belts for a Capri. Then the fun begins. First the street light went dark. Then my flashlight went dead. Then with a cold front pushing through it started drizzling. I was wearing shorts and flip flops, lol. I remember saying "this sucks", lol.
After using a bic lighter and feeling in the dark I got the job done. I finally made it home around midnight.
This morning I heard the belt squeak again. No procrastinating this time.
I come to the conclusion it's difficult to get a good bite on the alternator to apply proper tension. I ended up using a pry bar but it still wasn't easy. I barely tighten the top bolt so it would hold position. Then with the pry bar I could make positive ground. It's good and tight now. I think it will last. The key is proper tension. I can say this last belt even though not squeaking I could hear a whistling as I passed beside a barricade or other close obstacle. I now know that was the belt and a warning sign before the squeak. So next time beside a jersey barrier roll down your window and listen.
I now carry spare belts! 😊