I've skimmed over the crank bolt issue before since I didn't have an AAZ, but now I do, with 140K on it.
I emailed the PO who bought the motor new about the crank bolt and if he'd ever had it off for any reason
when doing t-belts. I'm assuming if he has not and the pulley isn't wobbling, it's fine, I further assume
that the endless threads about clutched alternator pulleys to stop beating on the crank and such are specific
issues to the serp belt? I believe a v-belt can (and does) just slip a little and squeak slightly at idle instead
of beating on the crank, yes? I'm due a t-belt in 5 or 10K miles, I usually just pull the four bolts and take the pulley off
and don't disturb the crank bolt, should I pull the thing off and replace it? I find a lot of info but it's all late AAZ/serp belt
specific so far.
IMHO if it isn't wobbling now I would leave it the heck alone and watch it like crazy....Unless you are going to D shape the crank and run the AHU D shape crank gear. Then take it off.
Gotcha. PO said hasn't been off and he put the bolt in new, with red locktite and lots of torque. I'll keep an eye on it.
I'd think if it was going to crap out it'd have done so by 140K.
I want to say it's better to check it while you are in there, but when I did a similar swap (AAZ sans turbo) I also deleted the serp setup and went to v-belts. I didn't check the crank gear.
Near as I understand the problem, I'm inclined to just keep an eye out for pulley wobble and leave it be at this point.
Semi-related question. The belts kinda chirp at idle, they aren't worn or loose and the pulley groves look clean.
This isn't the first time I've had the A1 chassis v-belt setup do this, in fact I've always griped about that setup.
Is that related to why they went to a clutched alt pulley on the better-gripping serp belt setup? I'd like to tell myself
the v-belts just slip and chirp instead of beating on the crank. Maybe. ?