I know there would be a thread somewhere but I can't find the bugger. Could someone advise me on how you replace the fan belt on a 2010 Defender. I have had a look under the fan cover but couldn't see anything that was obviously a tensioner. The belt hasn't broke, I'm just asking should I have to replace it at some stage on the road.
Doesn't look as though the fan needs moving. I'm doing mine tonight and also replacing the tensioner and idler pulleys as the bearing is stuffed (08 Puma 110), which resulted in the belt being stripped.
Drover's idea for de-tensioning the tensioner is a good one - easy for one person to do and the fan can stay put.
A mate of mine who used to be a mechanic suggested that the pulley bearings are a weaker point than the belt itself so when you replace a belt you SHOULD replace the pulleys too.
Reckon I'll keep the spares for the big trip spares box.
When I did mine, I found that the fan bearing was the worst worn. Around $600 from LR, I posted a thread on replacing it with an off-the-shelf bearing that cost $50. I think you'll need a set of torx wrenches for the job, seem to recall there was one large torx bolt involved.
I used a 3/8" socket driver in the end of the tensioner pulley (square hole) and released the tension enough to remove the belt. That was on a 2011 Puma
As I had to also replace the tensioner, it was a fairly easy installation and although removing the fan would have made things simpler, it's certainly not necessary.
I used the workshop manual diagram for reference as to how the belt runs. I'd normally take a picture first with the incumbent belt in place, but mine had disintegrated; a picture of the carnage under the fan shroud would have been all but useless.
Slowly threading the belt starting from the 3 pulleys on the lower right (looking at the engine from the front), I ran the belt bit by bit along its desired course and put the tensioner base in place once it was all threaded correctly. I left the air conditioning condenser pulley (top left) as the only one that didn't have the belt running over it, because it's the most easily accessible.
To get the belt over this pulley, the tensioner first needed to be de-tensioned, which involved pushing the tensioner pulley down in a clockwise direction from four o'clock to about the half-past five position.
I've seen a couple of good techniques for this such as Drover's above, using a ratchet strap from beneath but I ended up getting a 3/8" drive with an extension and a large shifter for some extra leverage.....and simply pushed down hard with both hands and then managed to hold it easily with just my right hand leaving my left free up to lift the belt up over the a/c pulley.
Surprisingly easy.
Needless to say I bought a spare belt and a 1/2 : 3/8 adaptor in case it happens out in the sticks!
Tip: If you have a Black and Decker Workmate, place it up against the front bumper/ bullbar with a blanket/ rags on it and it makes for a great kneeling platform to work under the bonnet.
Reply With Quote
Fossicker
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks