Hi guys, just as the title says, my 1985 XJ6 keeps throwing alternator belts, and i'm not sure why. I don't know if this has happened before on this model or not. I'm about to have to go buy my third belt in 4 months. I used to be a mechanic working on Honda's for a year....I know i tightened the belt properly. I'm guessing maybe the bracket is loose or something? Or even the crank pulley is somehow cutting the rubber belts?

I dunno, just my thoughts, curious as to see what you guys think. Thanks!

 

Are the belts actually getting cut? Or just coming off the pulley?
The alternator belt is the inside one isn't it (Don't have an XJ6 anymore).
Are you replacing with the same brand/size belt? Have you tried a narrower belt that sits inside the pulley a little deeper?

 

Does it keep falling off or snapping? I had an alternator belt break last month when the belts appeared almost brand new (the previous owner said they were new). But in my case, all the belts seemed improperly tensioned--way too loose.

If it is properly tensioned, the only thing I can think of is that the pulleys are out of plane. Meaning the alternator pulley is not lining up perfectly with the crankshaft pulley. Not sure how you'd fix this or even check it, or how it would happen, though!

 

I'm not sure whether it is snapping or just falling, because i can never find the belt....it just disappears down the road somewhere. It is an inside belt, i think it's behind the Power steering belt. I think it was the same brand and size, was buying the ones at Advanced Auto Parts, whichever they recommended for it....

That's what i was thinking amcdonal86, the only way i know how they get out of plane is the alternator bracket not being mounted correctly or something similar. I'll have to wait until the weekend to start digging around under the hood, but if anyone knows anything that these cars are known for, i will look there first

Thanks for the input guys!

 

BTW that alternator chain was a big PITA! Took me maybe 8 hours over 2 days to do it. Some of that was because I was working in the dark--some of it had to do with that it was way too hard to find the pivot bolt/nuts on the AC compressor. The correct ones are shown below. (Upside down in photo)

 

May want to check this out as well.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...replace-66944/

 

I found the quickest way to remove the alternator from a Series III XJ6 with air conditioning is to remove the anti-roll bar (sway bar) mounts and the LH end link and remove the unit from underneath. You will literally give yourself brain damage messing with the air conditioner compressor.

NBCat