Can't DIY because the PS pump won't MOVE!

 
I thought I'd save some money buying and replacing three engine belts
myself -- AC, PS/WP, and Alternator. The job turned out to be a lot
harder than I imagined.

Day 1. (Afternoon, actually; it's really hot out there.) The outermost
belt (the A/C) gave up quickly once I figured out the idler pulley, but
the alternator wouldn't budge along its slotted track until it was
almost dark. That's when I found the alternator's pivot bolt. Aha, the
Pivot bolt!!  It pivotted and there was slack, behold!  But that belt is
blocked by the PS belt. And now it's dark. Shit.

Day 2. What keeps me from changing the PS/Water Pump belt is the PS pump
won't budge. I found and loosened its lock nut, but the adjusting bolt
does nothing. Guess it didn't read the manual. So, I'm guessing it's a
pivot bolt issue again, but *where is it*??

What I loosened on the front side was probably the adjuster bracket bolt
(can't see nuthin).  If the PS pump pivot bolt is the 14mm on the *back*
of the PS pump, my puny 6" Craftsman ratchet wrench is no match for it,
and that's all I can get in there. Any ideas??

So you can see I'm not much of a mechanic, but I tried. After putting my
'93 Sentra XE on the jackstands three times, I called the Goodyear
place. The tech said they're not that crazy about installing parts
(belts, in this case) brought in by a customer, but WTH, they'll do it
for $71.

This isn't spare cash, it's rare cash, and I can think of things I'd
rather spend it on.  $71 to change two belts.  >: Þ

Thanks for your attention, and my apologies if you've read this in
another NG. I wanted to get as much input as possible without the sin of
cross-posting.

Cheers,
Jm

 

  [ ... ]

I gather you missed the first step when you start doing your own auto
maintenance--buying a repair/maintenance guide. They're not expensive
and are available at just about every auto parts chain (Advance Auto,
AutoZone, Pep Boys, O'Reillys, etc.). They provide step-by-step
instructions for most maintenance tasks, usually including pictures
and drawings. You may be able to get factory manuals from a dealer,
but they tend to be pricey.

Without knowing the make, model, and year of your car, it's not possible
to give you any precise advice on how to make progress. Buy the book,
read through the steps a couple of times, then read through while looking
under the hood and locating all the bolts, pivots, springs, pulleys,
tensioners that you'll be dealing with. Locate all the tools you'll
need, and go to it.


Gary

--
Gary Heston  gheston@hiwaay.net   http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man"
    General of the Army (four stars) Ann Dunwoody

 

outermost

Got the Haynes manual the year I bought the car, but I learned it's not
specific about lots of things less experienced owners need to know. For
example, it shows a nice diagram of the component setup (engine belts),
but never mentions the pivot bolts at all, OR that they can turn an easy
textbook chore into a carport nightmare.


possible

Ahem. I did say '93 Sentra XE, but who's counting, eh? I'm just glad for
everyone's responses.


looking