emergency V belts change

[flapjack]

Ok this will sound strange but I have used one of my wifes nylons in a pinch to get home.  ;DJust stretch It around the pulleys and tie a knot. No tools and takes about one min. works great and will keep the lights on and the car from over heating.

  that is fantastic.   Just to clarify . . . do you use just one leg section?   i am assuming you cut off the panty section .. . or do you leave the panty section? Wouldn't it be flapping about?  Maybe I'm overthinking this, but if I'm going to ask my wife to contribute this particular garment "to fix the car" it better work.

[SolarSteve]

To the OP

When I first got my Jetta I had many leaks and squeeky belts that I set out to fix.  I also removed as many of the A/C componets that I could to free up the engine compartment/loss excess weight.  In the process I removed and installed the alt a few times to get proficient at it.

There is not emergency belt replacement further than using panty hose or duct tape.  If the belt breaks and your're in the middle of nowhere, you had better be proficient at changing that belt or wear pantiey hose.  The belt comes on and goes off the exact same way as you did it during the timing belt change.  This ain't no Chevy or Dodge with an alt that you you just pull on to tighten.  Some wise-ass German engineer designed the worse possible way to route and tighten/loosen that alt belt.

1st disconect the neg batt lead
2nd remove the top bolt on the alt to alt bracket
3rd loosen the bottom alt support bolt below the IP
4th loosen the nut on the idler pulley
5th loosen the idler adjustment bolt
6th find something to bang like hell on the idler nut in the forward direction to get the f'ing pulley to move fowards enough to get the new belt on
7th tighen belt and all associated hardware.

Let me know if you need me to walk you through an oil change

[Dean Erickson]

Flapjack
Use the nee-hi not pantyhose. Don't let any of your buddys see that in you tool box. hahahaha.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

.........
Some wise-ass German engineer designed the worse possible way to route and tighten/loosen that alt belt.

1st disconect the neg batt lead
2nd remove the top bolt on the alt to alt bracket
3rd loosen the bottom alt support bolt below the IP
4th loosen the nut on the idler pulley
5th loosen the idler adjustment bolt
6th find something to bang like hell on the idler nut in the forward direction to get the f'ing pulley to move fowards enough to get the new belt on
7th tighen belt and all associated hardware.

Let me know if you need me to walk you through an oil change

The steps above is the easy part and can be done from above. What has been omitted is the power steering belt and the water pump/AC belt, which has to come out first before the alternator belt can go on, and which can only be done from below the car by loosening the pwr steering tensioner and the pulley. Then the water pump /AC belt has to come off next, which means loosening the tensioner on the AC compressor and fighting to get the belt off. I just can't imagine removing and replacing those three belts in an emergency on the side of the road unless I have practiced it and kept all the tools used in the practice in the car.

If anyone has done those  belts on the side of the road, I'd love to hear from you and any special tips or tricks you may have to make the job easier.

If the alternator belt breaks, I don't think I would attempt a side of the road repair. I'd just pull the broken belt off and drive it home if possible. The only battery power necessary to drive the car is power to the IP fuel shutoff solenoid. I estimate you can drive for at least 8 hours if you do not use other electrical accessories and keep that solenoid open. It'd be great if an emergency belt is available that is open ended where you can thread it onto the pulleys, connect the ends and tighten, without having to remove belts that are in the way. Have you seen a belt like that?

[dieselweasel]

Hello, I did not read the above stuff because it looks like there is an argument going on.
I have driven these stinking slow cars since 1981.
I have learned to always carry a spare alternator in each of the cars I own either behind the passenger side seat or in the trunk (in a Jetta). I also carry two metal ammo cans wth a full complement of "our" numerically uneven (13 mm, 15 mm, 17 mm, etc) wrenches and sockets along with screw drivers wire cutters and some spare wire. I always have at least one spare belt of each type specific to the car within the car. I also carry at least one good voltage regulator with new, long brushes on it along with fuses some screws, vise grips, jumper cables, and a 12 volt tire pump. I carry one complete alternator idler pulley (Mk. II with air conditioner) and its corresponding hardware. Oh, I almost forgot a new pump shut off solenoid and curved 15/16 Snap on wrench for it.
I carry two original VW jacks which are in good shape....because they are amazingly light and they do work in a pinch.
I always have two Sears rechargeable LED trouble lights which are really usable for everything from emergency car repairs to avoiding rattlesnake bites at night......got one yesterday....the SNAKE, NOT the bite.
Why do I go to all this much hassle??? Because I live out here in the sticklers and drive in all types of weather in very high mileage cars.
Over the years, I have had to use ALL of this stuff. The worst was an air conditioned Mk. I alternator in the middle of the night in the middle of winter in this hell-hole they call Wyoming!!!!!
What was your question again......?

EDIT: A water pump? Ah, NO, I do not carry one of those.....but, I do reach in a give it the wiggle test all the time

Looks like I met a long lost relative!  I drive an hour back and forth to work every day and there's not much in between my house and work.  I like being prepared for emergencies.  Here's what I carry:     
Tools:
-carry box full of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, prybars, etc
-complete socket set with 1/4", 3/8, and 1/2 drive
-cordless drill
-jumper cables
-2 funnels
-12V air pump
-lug wrench of course
-Bentley (most important)
Parts:
-starter
-vee and serpentine belts
-most coolant hoses
-oil pressure switches
-spare glow plug
-coolant
-engine oil
-brake fluid
-headlight bulbs

You never know.

[Zulfiqar]

my alternator shat on me whilst on the move - bad regulator - and it was night - time, I creeped the car home by removing the IP solenoid plunger with a spanner my mate bent with a torch and a vise - nutjob he was - but it took off the IP solenoid..

speaking of changing belts - I have had to change belts on a mates Golf with A/C on the side of the road - took about 45 minutes, good thing that we always keeped the engine sparkly clean..

tools were
combi spanners (10mm, 13mm, 17mm and 15mm)
allen socket - 8mm and 6mm
screwdriver = big ass one

both belts in

I have this plastic moulded briefcase of tools (german proxxon) that my mate gave me for a birthday - simple to stow not rattly and has everything you need in an emergency - combi spanners from 6mm to 19
sockets 8, 10, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 and 24
ratchet
wobbly
extensions
breaker tommy bar
pliers
wp pliers
hammer
wiring tester,
screwdrivers
allen keys 5,6,8 and 10mm

I sometimes keep it in the car along with a set of 500amp jumper cables I fabricated,

havent needed the tools much on the run but have helped other motorists many times..

parts i keep for car
1 40 amp bosch relay (too many relays in my car)
fuses
H/L bulb
drivebelts
little roll of this rubber that can patch rad hoses (works well for about 2 hours) I dont know that the hell it is (a crane mechanic gave it to me and its awesome)

[8v-of-fury]

If you've already done the job in your driveway then you know whats going to be needed and done in order to replicate it on the side of the road. The only difference is it will be changed at a time of least convenience for you

[SolarSteve]

The steps above is the easy part and can be done from above. What has been omitted is the power steering belt and the water pump/AC belt, which has to come out first before the alternator belt can go on, and which can only be done from below the car by loosening the pwr steering tensioner and the pulley. Then the water pump /AC belt has to come off next, which means loosening the tensioner on the AC compressor and fighting to get the belt off. I just can't imagine removing and replacing those three belts in an emergency on the side of the road unless I have practiced it and kept all the tools used in the practice in the car.

Dude, to change the alt belt you remove the alt and then loosen the A/C compressor mounting bolts and then loosen the A/C comp adjuster.  Once the adjuster is loose you just push down on the comp and the A/C, H2O, PS belt comes off and you install the inner/alt belt and reinstall/tighten. If the PS belt breaks, just drive home without PS and fix it when you get home.   You don't need to loosen the PS belt to change the ALT belt.