Alternator Bolt

[Tommer 0]

So I was driving up the M4 yesterday morning and after about 20 miles I could smell a fair rubber burnng smell. I assumed that it must be the tyres getting a bit hot as the tracking is prob still out a bit. so powered on regardless. got to my destination and noticed the front left tyre needed a bit of air, made a mental note to pump it up before getting on the motorway on the way back.

 

driving back towards motorway, pass the services which reminds me " I need more Air" so carry on to the next one. en-route I notice the battery light is on, the steering very heavy and the heavens open. I switch on the wipers, and they are slower than a slow thing on a slow day. so I pull over and have a quick look under the bonnet...

 

first thing I notice, no alternator / PAS belt. hmmm

then I notice that the bolt which tensions the alternator has undone itself completely.

then finally that the big bolt that holds the alternator on has worked it way loose. so loose it would have been rubbing on the belt (that'll be the burning smell earlier then)

 

I burn all of my fingers trying to tighten the big bolt by hand as much as possible, hurray that's done

 

I sit in the car and start it, oh yes, enough power for that, I hope there is enough power to get me home. Low and behold, whats that in the rainy distance, is it, could it be, A HALFORDS!!

 

In I go, new belt £8 cheapest socket set I could find £12 with no umbrella I stood in the now torrential rain tightening the bolts and fitting the new belt. I did have a towel in the car which was handy.

 

next stop, the garage next door, tyres all inflated check!

 

so the moral of my story is, don't forget to check and threadlock your bolts!

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Should the moral of the story not be, do not power on regardless when you notice a funny smell?

[S@m 156]

I think the moral here is that if you are brave enough to run an old peugeot make sure you keep a socket set in the car!!.....although, saying that, i dont keep one! i think that keeping a socket set in the car is just asking for problems to occur! I do keep a spare Alt belt on the back seat though!

 

Sam