Alternator Belt
Discussion
Had a fun Saturday night. Enjoying the weather got the motor out to give it a run, then took the good lady out for dinner in Bewdley.
Left to come home at 10pm. As we crossed the river, battery warning came up then, along the darkest section of road between Kidderminster and Bewdley the car died. 4hrs later, on the back of a low loader we got home!!
Turns out the alternater belt has perished and slipped off, thus not charging the battery while the cars running. Simple to repair (well simple for Andy at Central TVR!) and its back up and running again now. Why couldn't it happen while out and about during the day on Saturday and not at 10oclock Saturday night!!! Still could be worse. Planning a trip to Lake Garda this summer. If it happened then, really would have been in s*%t.
Anyone else had this happen to them?
Left to come home at 10pm. As we crossed the river, battery warning came up then, along the darkest section of road between Kidderminster and Bewdley the car died. 4hrs later, on the back of a low loader we got home!!
Turns out the alternater belt has perished and slipped off, thus not charging the battery while the cars running. Simple to repair (well simple for Andy at Central TVR!) and its back up and running again now. Why couldn't it happen while out and about during the day on Saturday and not at 10oclock Saturday night!!! Still could be worse. Planning a trip to Lake Garda this summer. If it happened then, really would have been in s*%t.
Anyone else had this happen to them?
Believe me changing the alternator belt is not an easy job and it's one of the most likely items to screw your engine 
I'd check that your guy has set the lateral adjustment on the auxillary drive shaft correctly.
If it is even slightly out, it pulls or pushs the bearing and will destroy it within a few hundred miles. It's an engine out job to fix it.
Be very careful! Get a written guarantee for the work.
I'd check that your guy has set the lateral adjustment on the auxillary drive shaft correctly.
If it is even slightly out, it pulls or pushs the bearing and will destroy it within a few hundred miles. It's an engine out job to fix it.
Be very careful! Get a written guarantee for the work.
Edited by johnbear on Thursday 31st January 18:56
johnbear said:
Believe me changing the alternator belt is not an easy job and it's one of the most likely items to screw your engine
I'd check that your guy has set the lateral adjustment on the auxillary drive shaft correctly.
If it is even slightly out, it pulls or pushs the bearing and will destroy it within a few hundred miles. It's an engine out job to fix it.
Be very careful! Get a written guarantee for the work.
Another engine out story, does anthing happen when the engine is in. My indie charges me £600 for an oil change since the engine has to come out for him to do the work. I'd check that your guy has set the lateral adjustment on the auxillary drive shaft correctly.
If it is even slightly out, it pulls or pushs the bearing and will destroy it within a few hundred miles. It's an engine out job to fix it.
Be very careful! Get a written guarantee for the work.
Edited by johnbear on Thursday 31st January 18:56
roseytvr said:
Is it really that difficult? I have a squealing belt on the Sag, what are the problems or issues tightening it?
Sounds like someone was yanking that guys chain who posted a couple of years back. The auxiliary shaft rides on a plain bearing up front and the rear is supported via roller bearing.The belt can be changed by removing the airbox and relaxing the tension on the belt by loosening a couple of bolts and dropping the alternator..
There that was easy.
Think we need to tidy some of these threads up which are full of nonsense, as they scare people.
^^^What Matt said!
Had issues with alternator - - voltage reading high (>14.8V) sourced one from an outfit replicating original Lucas/Mag. Marrelli/Denso 100A as fitted to TVRs post mid 90's. Still had same issues. However, reading through the TVR pages got a link to a L-R dealer who was selling original units...Problem solved.
Therefore, because of changing alternator, I've had the belt off on several occasions. It is as described. Only caveat is that you do need to get the tension just right, else it slips, because it's such a small drive belt.
Nick
Had issues with alternator - - voltage reading high (>14.8V) sourced one from an outfit replicating original Lucas/Mag. Marrelli/Denso 100A as fitted to TVRs post mid 90's. Still had same issues. However, reading through the TVR pages got a link to a L-R dealer who was selling original units...Problem solved.
Therefore, because of changing alternator, I've had the belt off on several occasions. It is as described. Only caveat is that you do need to get the tension just right, else it slips, because it's such a small drive belt.
Nick
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