So the end of a very long saga. Ever since I got the car, 10 years ago, there has been something amiss with the alternator drive belt action. Had noticed when going through a large puddle the belt would squeal and pretty much the alternator would not be turning as the voltmeter dropped down to 12v. Then shortly after if would screech a bit as it re-gripped and began charging again. I would also get this phenomenon on start up if it had been raining heavily. Start up car, alternator not charging, few seconds later a little squealing accompanies the charging coming to life, voltmeter climbs to 14 and all is good. Loose or goosed belt you would assume. Wrong. A little while later I start getting what sounds like a bearing whine. Suspect alternator. Change alternator and belt, goes away for a bit. Comes back. Suspect alternator again, what else can it blooming be? Repeat process, repeat outcome. Car's had about 5 alternators now! Move on to next suspect, replace AC compressor, needed one with an intact nose seal anyway so changed it, changed belt, all good for a bit. Symptoms return. Much head scratching. Take it apart again and notice alternator drive belt has slithers of metal inside the grooves. I know I've changed alternators and AC compressors so only remaining suspect is the crank pulley itself. Boom. Only took about 8 years to figure this out! Enquire about cost of new crank pulley from OPC, £102 inc discount. Ouch, so whilst I swither about this I throw on a new belt, with no metal inside, and over tighten the belt to help the disintegrating crank pulley grip better, kinda forgot about it as was mostly performing ok with belt tight. Then we get an unexpected gas evacuation from AC system. Not put 2 and 2 together at this point, AC system was reconditioned and many parts replaced, but not all parts. Its 29 years old so highly likely something I've not replaced has sprung a leak. Forget it and move on. Then I start to hear a bit of what sounds like bearing rumbling on start up and idle. Defo coming from alternator belt area, clears when revved and heated up. Now put 2 and 2 together and assume tight belt has damaged AC compressor bearing, in turn damaged nose seal, and explains gas loss. Time to order that crank pulley! Decide to acquire a re-con alternator at same time, as had likely damaged that bearing also and had no desire to complete the job and realise I needed to do it again! All bases now covered. Fitted the crank pulley, tighten to a million torques, fit re-con alternator and AC compressor and finish job with 2 new belts. Tighten to recommended level, good idea that (!), all noises gone! Phew. Also did an oil change and changed the o-ring on the low end of the trans oil cooler loop which had a small sweat. Topped up gearbox oil then popped off to my mates house to get the AC system pressure tested (ok), vacced and re-filled with gas. All good now but would have been considerably less expensive had I changed the crank pulley sooner! Anyway I have icy cold air again in time for this heat wave people are talking about............... Stuart
