The Bolt Strikes Again!

[Guest sritony]

So today was the North East Run out I had my tools, my overalls, and my car ready after its 50 mile run out yest without a single problem confidence was brimming and I was very happy so off I set to meet......

 

I stopped off at my grandads and when i started car back up the noise I dread of the fan belt started but I thought if I get to the meeting point we will sort it out there, When i pulled into the carpark the whine of the belt started again, went to start it up and nothing! it just died, pushed it into a space and got under and started tightening the guide bolt (agaist the very very very hot exhaust manifold some 3rd degree burns later) and tightened the fan belt up but for the next 10 miles there was scraping, burning smells and more noises from fan belt. So we stopped on a hill , very windy , no towns around and got the bonnet up and the curse of the bolt had struck again and the alt was hanging off but this time grinding against the water pully but the bolt was stuck in the housing again as was my problem a few weeks ago.

 

So I got on phone to the RAC which I get from my Halifax ultimate reward card and about 1 h 30 mins later he came and spent a good 2 hours fixing the car, He finally got the alt back on and correct this time, my problem last time was it was still rattleing even when the bolt was tightened so it just shook the bolt too much and it snapped. Started car up and no charge still so he spent more time looking and looks like my alternator is now broke (few too many drops). Since I had basic cover (just found this out) there was nothing he could do but charge my battery and gun it for home, if I wanted to pay for full memembership 129 quid he would take me home.... so went for the risk option, No anything on elecs to use power.... got 24 miles and it died again, called RAC, charge again and and he followed me home but it did make it

 

Soooooo back to no confidence and my faith gone!

 

Pics to follow!

[Guest sritony]

Images on my blog thing

[speedtripledan]

Thats kit cars for you !

Went to stoneleigh today got there and my rad had lost a bit of water topped it up as you do, on way home 70mile blast up the motorway and not a single drop gone ?

[Andi]

Thats kit cars for you !

 

Yes they do have their own mind.

Maybe a year ago now I tightened up my alternator belt and found that the bolt on the bottom right hand side had come loose.

This was due to the thread being worn. A few miles later and it dropped out and I panicked. Its still out now and I have never got round to

fixing it. So its only bolted on by one bolt and the tensioner bolt. Asking for trouble im sure, but no probs whatsoever.

Must get a helicoil kit.

 

Andi

[Guest sritony]

Yeah guess i'll just have to start getting used to it, and upgrade my RAC membership to include recovery because he was going to happily leave me on top of a hill with nothing around! wouldn't even tow me 5 miles to the town centre where I prob would of got home in 1 go or at least a bite to eat as hadn't eaten since 9am at this point it was 5pm!

 

It was held on by just top bolt and tensioner bolt but I hadn't stacked up the bolt head with some washers so it was still vibrating quite bad but thought its supposed to be like that, but RAC have fixed that with about 4 washers and a longer high tensile bolt so we shall see, its now sitting in garage until I get back from holidays! it got close to getting put on ebay last night

 

Going to invest in some ramps and hunt out a alt that works or maybe get mine reconditioned, whats best normally? does anyone know how much it is to recondition?

 

Got a good 6 weeks till Newark to get it working again!

[Guest sritony]

The distance home!

 

I now have full break down cover haha!

[speedtripledan]

If your gonna keep it get used to working on it there is always something that needs fettling to me its part of the fun, i get disapointed if nothing needs doing so i modify it a bit instead

Its all part of the fun !

[Guest sritony]

ah its the mind set I need........ been young and always having working tin tops so its just going to take a bit to get used to it and just see it as part of the fun but I am getting there and got over the initial reaction and I have full RAC breakdown cover now so why worry!