330D Auto. Drive belt (Alternator and PS).

[Zead]

2 issues. Battery has gone flat, and is quite new. Power steering is heavy. So I though Drive belt!
So how do you check tension of V belt. How do you tighten it. How easy is it to change.
Had covers off and had a quick look. The belt seems to deflect quite a lot when pushed, and twists easily to 90°, rough check I know but reasonably reliable.

Thoughts gratefully received, Z

[Zead]

Is no one able to help me out here? Appreciate any help

Z

[Vee]

If the battery OK the belts could be slipping or the alternator gone.

I've changed the belts on my old 330 coupe.
Very straightforward. The things the belts are routed around are the tensioners. I believe they're easy to remove and refit using a T25 bit.
As I say, I only did the belts and my car was a manual so much easier to remove the fan cowling.
If yours is an auto you'll need a 32mm open spanner to remove the viscous coupling.

In my case after changing the belts the battery light was still coming on so I tested the alternator and it was faulty.
Again, reasonably easy to change.

[8Tech]

Belts have automatic tensioners. If they are loose they will normally squeal badly. No adjustment available. If its very loose then you need to renew the belt and tensioner.

8Tech.

[Zead]

thanks for that, the belt has a 'mushy' sound to it but doesn't squeal or get worse under load, so I think it is just old. It looks like I have to remove a lot of plumbing to get to the belt. The flat battery maybe coincidence with steering feeling heavy. Someone said the pumps on these go quite a lot. I thought I would just change the belt and see how it was
Z