help, belt problem

[Nunook]

okay, ever since i got the engine in the car it has been killing the alternator/waterpump belt. The longest i've had the belt last was 2 weeks (ending today)

I know i tensioned it properly, and i had changed the alternator but that didn't help. I have a pulsar waterpump on it, and at first the pulley was off balance so i went and got the pulsar pulley. Before i got the correct pulley the belt lasted like 2 days max. I am planning on buying the 200sx waterpump so i can use the pulley that came with the engine. But before that i want to know...Questions: Do u guys think the waterpump got messed up because i was using the wrong pulley? If the waterpump is not the problem then it must be the crank pulley(process of elimination). What/Where can i get a crank pulley if i need one?

[biosehnsucht]

it's possible the pump is screwed up, that has killed alot, but AFAIK they usually just blew up not killed belts... maybe someone who has had it happen can comment on that better

make sure w/ the belt on the belt is straight on each pully and none of them are pulling it to the side, that could chew up the belt.. also look for anything that might be near the belt that it could possibly scrape on, even tho its not necessarily scraping when its installed..

[Nunook]

nah there is nothing in the way that could chew up the belt how it is. Before it was getting shredded. Also all the pulley line up correctly, and the belt sits correct on all of them, from what i can see.

Thanks for the help

[RMiller]

It has to be either aligned incorrectly, tensioned wrong, or getting scraped/shredded by something. Oh, I just read your suspicion about the crank pulley. I guess you could get an OEM replacement if it fits. Probably won't be the same size, but you have a fwd water pump pulley, which is a different size anyway.

[float_6969]

Get a CA18ET waterpump and your problems will be solved. I really wish we could get the word out better to NOT USE THE PULSAR WATERPUMP!!!

[Nunook]

so if i buy the ET waterpump and use the pulley that came on the ca18det, then it will fix my prob! Finally a way to stop the squeel. And u know how much i spent on belts. I didn't use the warrenties cause I didn't have anything to give them back. Somewhere on the highway is a group of broken 4pk0855 or 865's... lol

I just remember reading that i could use the pulsar waterpump if i use the pulsar pulley. I guess that was wrong. thanks again.

[float_6969]

Well, that is supposed to work also. But I know for a fact (aka, from experience) that a CA18ET water pump with the CA18DET pully works just fine and won't chew up the belts.

[RMiller]

You have to match the pump and pulley! You can use the ET pump with ET pulley no problem. You can also use the fwd(DE) pump with the fwd pulley. You can't mix the two unless you do it in one particular combination, which is carefully machining the DE pulley to fit on the ET pump.

You should be fine with the DE pump and pulley, so I don't know what your problem is. Look for razor blades on your crank pulley. Or gremlins (sharp teeth). Maybe the crank pulley is pinching the belt. Or maybe try loosening the belt a little.

[Nunook]

I just changed the waterpump from the ca18DE to the ca18ET waterpump, and i have no squelling so far. Problem solved!!! Really appreciate the help

[RMiller]

That's cool. But I don't see why it would solve your belt-shredding problems. The pump is the same thing, except the centering shaft is a different size. This doesn't matter if you buy the DE pulley as well. Also the pulleys are slightly different diameters. But that won't kill your belts. I guess as long as the problem is solved it's all good.

I used a DE pump and stupid me used the DET pulley, which broke the pump because the pulley wasn't aligned on the pump properly. Then I put the DET pump back on, and since I warped my original pulley I had to buy a new one. Stupid me bought a DE pulley, so I machined it out to the correct bore. So I'm using my original pump (looks pretty good) with a DE pulley and I have no problems.

[biosehnsucht]

most likely he didn't quite destroy his pump with the DET pully, but screwed it up enough it was off balance and from then on kept vibrating and chewing up the belts.

[float_6969]

[WeldingHank]

heh, i still have the same belt that came on my alternator/waterpump when the engine was shipped to me :-)

[NeedCAforS13]

i was killing belts at a phenomonal rate with the DET pulley on a DE waterpump. I got a DE pulley from Dee and my problem has been solved for months now. The other mechanics at Nissan told me an off balance pulley will eat up belts

Sean

[Nunook]

BUMP!

That's cool. But I don't see why it would solve your belt-shredding problems.

You were right, it didn't solve my problem after all. It only gave me alittle vacation. I need u guys help again! So to restate my problem, My alternator/water pump belts slips and after a while it shreds:

Changed waterpumps, pulleys, alternators, rebuilt original alternator, tried different belt companies and sizes and tensions(tighter, looser) Pulleys line up, radiator starting spraying out of the side(i thought the belt might be getting wet) fixed and none of them were the problem.

The only thing i notice is when more electricity(like headlights, radio, a/c fan) is being taken from the alternator, and the rpms drop to like 800(my idle is at 1K right now) it starts to slip and then the voltage drops and it slips more. Right now im gonna take off my electric fans, and put a clutch fan on to reduce the electricity. ANY OTHER IDEAS???? PLEASE

[RMiller]

I can think of 3 possibilities. Either your crank pulley is jacked, the belt isn't lining up (or it's wrapped around the crank pulley where the a/c or power steering should go), or you're using belts of the wrong width. Not that fewer ribs would cause belts to break a couple times a month, but I can't think of anything else.

Ohh, ohh, now something's coming to my mind. Ok, so when my rpms drop I hear a squeaking noise. But...that's because my belt isn't tightened nearly enough because it's physically impossible with my KA-E alternator. My rpms drop when I step on the brake, or something, like you described. That has to be the problem, and I'd better look out before my belt does the same thing.

Tighten your belts!!! It should be very taut, I would say you should be able to wiggle it maybe .5 cm on the section between the alternator and water pump. I'm just ballparking it, but my point is it should be very tight.

[biosehnsucht]

Yes, taught but not solid. Too tight = dead belts also.