Subject: Alternator Belt
Date: 16 November, 1999
From: zdoc zdoc@yosemite.net

Hi Kurt, Doc here... it sounds like you have a definite belt alignment problem. Look down from the top and check the water pump belt groove in relationship with the crankshaft pulley. Then from the passenger's side look at the alternator belt groove in relationship with the crank pulley. All of these should be in alignment, and the possibility the you have a shifted crank pulley on the rubber vibration isolator. If the water pump and the alternator grooves are in alignment then you need to replace the crank
pulley assembly. If you are still having problems determining the thing please let me know. Also check the alternator mounting bracket at the bottom for proper alignment. I hope that this helps you...

ZDOC OUT

Hey Doc,

I have a '79 280ZX that keeps chewing up alternator belts. It wears the V-belt on one side (toward front of car). I checked the after market alternator against a Nissan replacement and the distance between the sheave and the mounting bracket are the same. I am therefore concluding that the tension bracket must be bent. Just wondering if you have seen this problem before.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Kurt Neitzke