Thread: A real WTF was that moment on start-up

Hi There,
Sorry about the expletive in the title hope it is allowed.

As some may know I I have been replacing the alternator on my TDV8, job went reasonably well, thanks JC for the hint on bleeding the fuel system after my senior moment.

Engine running, beautifully smooth as usual...... decided t go and set the radio and the clock whilst the engine got a bit of heat into it. Next minute there is this twanging noise, suddenly followed by a screeching noise that then a metallic rattle, a dull thud and then the noises stopped apart from a slight rattle. This all happened in a matter of five to ten seconds.

Switched the engine off and went to investigate, met by blue smoke and the smell of burning rubber. Stripped the fan cowling off and took the fan off and what you see below is what greeted me.

One of two things happened, I had trouble with the accessory belt tensioner when I stripped the engine down, this was still tight however I thought good enough, I have since taken this off a and freed it off properly. What I think actually happened was I didn't get the belt 100% on one of the pulleys, maybe the one on the furthest right, it is quite difficult to see.

I spent the next four hours digging the brand new shredded belt out from behind the crankshaft pulley, what a mess and what a plick to get out.

After I put the old belt back on again I gave the engine two complete revolutions before I was satisfied that the belt was on all the pulleys properly, a very important lesson to oneself here.

As usual I suspect this could have been 100% worse, I'll put myself down as lucky.

Cheers Marty

Hi Dave,
You are not kidding, at the sound of the screeching and dull thud my whole life passed before me................. getting out and seeing the smoke was nearly an "I'll come back later and have a look" time.

Cheers Marty