replacing alternator on 1.6 zetec focus
Discussion
Hi. I need to change (or at least remove to check) the alternator on a 54 plate 1.6 focus. The alternator is on the top front left of the engine as you look in the engine bay and the serpentine belt also runs round the water pump and aircon pump? The Alternator has a bolt at the top left and a nut on a hex headed stud on the top right and the bottom bolt also holds on a bracket for the power steering resevoir.
Question is how is the belt tensionned - does not look obvious to me and the Alt. slides forward off the stud rather than 'swivling' to create the required tension. Unfortunately forgot to take pictures last night.
Any help appreciated. Think it's the Alternator causing the sudden and horrid squeek/grating noice.
Cheers,
Virgil.
Question is how is the belt tensionned - does not look obvious to me and the Alt. slides forward off the stud rather than 'swivling' to create the required tension. Unfortunately forgot to take pictures last night.
Any help appreciated. Think it's the Alternator causing the sudden and horrid squeek/grating noice.
Cheers,
Virgil.
virgil said:
Hi. I need to change (or at least remove to check) the alternator on a 54 plate 1.6 focus. The alternator is on the top front left of the engine as you look in the engine bay and the serpentine belt also runs round the water pump and aircon pump? The Alternator has a bolt at the top left and a nut on a hex headed stud on the top right and the bottom bolt also holds on a bracket for the power steering resevoir.
Question is how is the belt tensionned - does not look obvious to me and the Alt. slides forward off the stud rather than 'swivling' to create the required tension. Unfortunately forgot to take pictures last night.
Any help appreciated. Think it's the Alternator causing the sudden and horrid squeek/grating noice.
Cheers,
Virgil.
What's wrong with all the people on the Ford part of pistonheads?Question is how is the belt tensionned - does not look obvious to me and the Alt. slides forward off the stud rather than 'swivling' to create the required tension. Unfortunately forgot to take pictures last night.
Any help appreciated. Think it's the Alternator causing the sudden and horrid squeek/grating noice.
Cheers,
Virgil.
Firstly, it's not the water pump, its the power steering pump. The water pump is cambelt driven, hence why so many people change the water pump when they change the cam belt. funny that.
and if you feel the need to post this thread I sincerely doubt you will be able to remove an alternator and successfully diagnose whether it is the cause of your problems.
alternatively, do what other people with your ability to work on cars (i.e. none) do, take it to a garage to sort it for you.
Cost Captain...calm down.
Firstly, it is the water pump. It's a terrible idea, it's a smooth pulley used to run the back side of the belt between the crank and alternator pulleys. The PAS pulley is then beneath the alt pulley. I know this because I'm a mechanic and I've worked on several of these horrible little engines. (the last one engine code HWDA)
Not all engines are designed the same. Not all run the water pump off of the timing belt, even though it is common practice.
So please, don't judge and rant at people until you are absolutely sure of your facts. I came on here to see if everyone else has the same issues with this no tensioner arrangement. It would appear they do. Your unfounded senseless rant prompted me to register and reply.
You don't know everything about every car. No one does. I despise Fords, almost as much as it would appear you hate their owners, but I steer clear of making any sorts of comments (or promises to customers) until I'm absolutely certain I'm correct. I suggest you do the same in future.
I hope Ford sort this design out, as their stretchy belt idea is just a terribly veiled money making scheme for their dealerships. I'd hate to work for a recovery service and turn up to a car to have to fix this. Although, as the water pump is driven by this belt, the engine is probably dead by then anyways. The piston in cylinder 3 melted on the one we've just repaired.
Firstly, it is the water pump. It's a terrible idea, it's a smooth pulley used to run the back side of the belt between the crank and alternator pulleys. The PAS pulley is then beneath the alt pulley. I know this because I'm a mechanic and I've worked on several of these horrible little engines. (the last one engine code HWDA)
Not all engines are designed the same. Not all run the water pump off of the timing belt, even though it is common practice.
So please, don't judge and rant at people until you are absolutely sure of your facts. I came on here to see if everyone else has the same issues with this no tensioner arrangement. It would appear they do. Your unfounded senseless rant prompted me to register and reply.
You don't know everything about every car. No one does. I despise Fords, almost as much as it would appear you hate their owners, but I steer clear of making any sorts of comments (or promises to customers) until I'm absolutely certain I'm correct. I suggest you do the same in future.
I hope Ford sort this design out, as their stretchy belt idea is just a terribly veiled money making scheme for their dealerships. I'd hate to work for a recovery service and turn up to a car to have to fix this. Although, as the water pump is driven by this belt, the engine is probably dead by then anyways. The piston in cylinder 3 melted on the one we've just repaired.
dunanifestin said:
...as their stretchy belt idea is just a terribly veiled money making scheme for their dealerships.
Just obtained a 2011 Focus and noticed a very tight aux belt, but couldn't see any obvious way to adjust the tension. I thought it can't possibly be some sort of self-adjusting belt!!!So, from your comments about a 'stretchy belt' is it really not possible to mechanically adjust the belt tension? Because in my judgement my aux belt is extremely tight, which doesn't seem quite right. And what's more, there's a noise from the belt area which appears to be in sympathy with the rotation of the water pump.
These are one of the quickest alternator swaps out there!
(from memory)
The tensioner is accessed from underneath the car, it is at the top of the rear of the the engine. I think it's a 15mm spanner which you use on the centre nut to lever the tension away from the belts, then it's simply a case of slipping the belt off, disconnecting the alternator (disconnect the battery neg first), removing the 2 bolts holding it in, and out she comes.
What are you going to test on it when it's out though?
(from memory)
The tensioner is accessed from underneath the car, it is at the top of the rear of the the engine. I think it's a 15mm spanner which you use on the centre nut to lever the tension away from the belts, then it's simply a case of slipping the belt off, disconnecting the alternator (disconnect the battery neg first), removing the 2 bolts holding it in, and out she comes.
What are you going to test on it when it's out though?
Whats the fault?? quite often an alternator fault on these can be traced to a dodgy connection on the main plug (remove clean refit) or the exciter wire breaking right by where it joins the alternator.
Ford do a stretch on aux belt design which is a pita to do
but on the earlier type (you didnt say weather mk1 or mk2) it has a tensioner with a 13mm bolt which can be easily released.
And yes the water pump is driven by the aux drive belt
Ford do a stretch on aux belt design which is a pita to do
but on the earlier type (you didnt say weather mk1 or mk2) it has a tensioner with a 13mm bolt which can be easily released.And yes the water pump is driven by the aux drive belt
neiljohnson said:
Ford do a stretch on aux belt design which is a pita to do but on the earlier type (you didnt say weather mk1 or mk2) it has a tensioner with a 13mm bolt which can be easily released.
It's fairly new and I think it's a Mk3. There's no tensioner that I can locate - exclucing the crank there are three pulleys, namely: alternator, water pump and steering pump (although the last item I haven't yet examined it close enough to decide whether it's steering or air-con pump!). but on the earlier type (you didnt say weather mk1 or mk2) it has a tensioner with a 13mm bolt which can be easily released.Looks like it's some sort of stretchy or self adjusting belt that can't be removed without cutting it, and because there's no separate tensioner to slacken off, a new one needs a tool to fit. I have to say from my experience in engineering, the technique has only been adopted to save either money or space.
Difficult to get a decent picture being so cramped in there, but at a suitable opportunity perhaps removing the wheel might get a better view for the camera. When I do I''l post it.
dilateous said:
It's fairly new and I think it's a Mk3. There's no tensioner that I can locate - exclucing the crank there are three pulleys, namely: alternator, water pump and steering pump (although the last item I haven't yet examined it close enough to decide whether it's steering or air-con pump!).
Looks like it's some sort of stretchy or self adjusting belt that can't be removed without cutting it, and because there's no separate tensioner to slacken off, a new one needs a tool to fit. I have to say from my experience in engineering, the technique has only been adopted to save either money or space.
Difficult to get a decent picture being so cramped in there, but at a suitable opportunity perhaps removing the wheel might get a better view for the camera. When I do I''l post it.
Are you sure it's the alternator? The PCM on newer focus's controls if the alternator outputs to reduce engine emissions.Looks like it's some sort of stretchy or self adjusting belt that can't be removed without cutting it, and because there's no separate tensioner to slacken off, a new one needs a tool to fit. I have to say from my experience in engineering, the technique has only been adopted to save either money or space.
Difficult to get a decent picture being so cramped in there, but at a suitable opportunity perhaps removing the wheel might get a better view for the camera. When I do I''l post it.
Thanks everyone for the info.
Scanning the jolly old interweb it looks like this stretchy belt business is not an uncommon technique. So presumably what I would ascertain as a somewhat tight belt is probably normal these days - but nonethelesss, it still seems rather tight to me.
I also notice a number of techniques for removing such a belt without cutting it in half.
So I'll monitor the apparent noise (the thing that caused me to check under the bonnet in the first place!), and if it gets any worse I'll try one of the removal techniques to try and identify the unit producing the noise.
Many thanks for all the replies.
Scanning the jolly old interweb it looks like this stretchy belt business is not an uncommon technique. So presumably what I would ascertain as a somewhat tight belt is probably normal these days - but nonethelesss, it still seems rather tight to me.
I also notice a number of techniques for removing such a belt without cutting it in half.
So I'll monitor the apparent noise (the thing that caused me to check under the bonnet in the first place!), and if it gets any worse I'll try one of the removal techniques to try and identify the unit producing the noise.
Many thanks for all the replies.
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