Do
It Yourself
Instructions
for basic repairs and maintenance for A-types
Tightening and replacing
alternator belt
If the electric current in
your Citroën is not generated by the dynamo, but by the alternator, you should
check the condition of its belt from time to time. Excessively tightened belt
may cause the damage of the bearing, and, on the other hand, slack belt will cause
increased wearing of itself, as well as discharging battery. In order to
check the belt, turn off the engine and push the belt by the fingers: its free
play should be about 10-15 mm. If adjustment is needed, it can be done in pretty
simple way:
- remove the alternator
cover from the front air deflector (engine hood)
- loosen bolts 1 and 2
(figure 1)
Figure
1: adjusting the position of the alternator
- turn the alternator
around the bolt (2) to desired direction, which will change the tension of
the belt
- tighten bolts 1 and
2 and check the belt again; repeat adjusting if necessary
- worn or too stretched
belt must be replaced. It's not neccesary to remove the fan in order to replace
the belt, just do as following:
- Dyane and Ami: remove
the grille (Dyane) or sheet panel with a grille between front wings (Ami)
- remove wire net in front
of the fan
- remove the alternator
cover
- let up the belt by loosening
bolts 1 and 2 (figure
1) and turning alternator clockwise
- since the fan wings
are flexible enough, you can pull out the belt from between the fan wings
and the housing (figure 2)
Figure
2: removing and installing belt without removing fan
- fit a new belt in a
same way and tighten it properly (look above)
