Adjusting Alternator belt 04 160 with aircon

I don't consider myself too mechanically challenged, but "WHAT A BASTARD of a job!"
My set up doesn't look to much like Clives excellent how too on this simplish job.
For the life of me, I cant loosen the 10mm bolt on the adjuster pulley. What tool do you blokes use? No spanner I can find fits or gives enough purchase on the soft bolt head. Also, the bolts holding the Alternator in place are socket head, so bugger all room to use the relevant hex insert.
What a crap job! And I cant use the car until sorted as the belt is screaming.
Let's not even talk about me tearing the rt hand corner of the rear bumper away from the car bottoming out getting into my garage. (Shit plastic mounting point) Not a happy boy.
Thanks for any help, suggestions fellas.
Ken


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Yes Ken, Its a bit of a pig.

When I fitted aircon to my TF160, I used an allen key to tackle the socket heads.

You could try talcum powder on the belt , it might stop the squeek long benough to get the car to a garage.

Good luck.

Mike

MG mania have a better bracket for the alternator, rose jointed and you just have to turn the bar between the rose joints

I don't think that will work winth an aircon car, the alternator is on a fixed bracket

http://www.mgfcar.de/alternator/belt_tension_MGF.htm

Thanks for the info fellas.
Ive gone in from the top after removing the hard top and engine cover. There was no way you can access the alternator from below. Ive loosened it off and will see if I can pry it a little to tighten the belt a smidgin. The tensioner pulley 10 mm bolt is a POS, made of cheese. Very poor access and strips if you look at it tersely. I cant undo it or the bolt will fail.
The belt has some minor cracks in it even though it is only 2 years and 20,000km old.
Ill put it all back together and get the pro' at Hypertune Cairns to replace it next service.
Again, what a mongrel of a what should be a simple job!
Best wishes all.
Ken

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Correct. It won't..I know this coz I bought one and I have aircon...so it's going spare if anyone is interested (without aircon, of course!)

Ok, got it all back together and without doubt, the most mongrel job Ive done for years.
To top it off, now there is no charge from the alternator. Belt isnt slipping, but battery light illuminated, and no charge on the multimeter. Battery was charged fully over night.
I did spark the alternator once when tightening it back up. ( have never had to disconnect a battery when tightening belts before. MGTF lesson learnt)

Question: is there an alternator fuse?
If its fried, what exactly fails on the alternator as its mechanical,spins and generates current. I cant see what would fail?

Thanks every one, looks like its off to the specialists.

Ken


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There is a big fuse in the engine bay on the boot bulkhead, but I don't know what it covers t

That probably the only one I haven't checked. Thanks Mike, I'll look tomorrow.
Ken


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Mike, your bloods worth bottling. 80Amp fuse on the forward boot/engine bulkhead blown. New fuse = alternator charging.
Thank-you mate. You learn something every day eh!
Best wishes.
Ken


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My fuseholder says max 70 amp, but it's only got a 40 amp one in...so you may have gone a bit overboard on that one !

mgbv8mike wrote: My fuseholder says max 70 amp, but it's only got a 40 amp one in...so you may have gone a bit overboard on that one !

Are you sure? an alternator will cook a 40 amp fuse in no time!
I suspect your mixing the memory of the 70 amp fuse holder with the 40 amp fuse that is for the EPAS, which is found under the bonnet (front of car) near the fuse box, with the 80 amp charging system fuse which is found in the engine bay on the bulkhead