Doctor.Jekyll

I brought a fan belt back to Canadian Tire. I said "this is too long. I need a shorter one."

He said "I can't do that. The computer says that is the right part." I say "I understand the computer says that is the part but there is an inch of slack in the belt. I need a shorter one. Can you find one with the same width but shorter?" He says "I can't do that. I can only find what the computer says." I say "isn't there a list of specs for each belt?" He says "I don't have anything like that."

I have the alternator moved all the way up to the top and there is a lot of slack in the belt. I do not have A/C. I have a '79 though I have to admit I'm not sure if the 12A is from a later year. Can someone suggest a belt part number?

The numbers I got off of the belt the computer listed are:

13320
J636
2601
14-0560-4

Thanks.

PS: All of the belts are behind the counter. Otherwise I would have just looked myself.

dean23

****... i had the same problem.. but i got the right size finally... haha. if u say please ill go out to my car, turn on my flash light and look for the number... haha

steve84GS TII

What a moron.
Someone who sells car parts outta know something about car parts.Thats my biggest gripe with local parts houses.When I go to Pepboys,I go behind the counter and look up my own parts because the idiots there are useless......its good to know the manager! Thats why I prefer the local Napa...costs more,but the guys and gals there are not chumps.

The alternator/waterpump belt is the same for all cars from 79-92,so you shouldnt have much problem finding the right one.....unless reduction pullies have been installed,then the stock belts arent going to work.

Mazdo

iTrader: (1)

I take my old belts with me when I buy new ones just to make sure I get the right ones. I can't believe that guy was so confident in his part number that he refused to give you another belt. I would either shop somewhere else if you can, or find the store manager and tell him his employee is full of ****.

Doctor.Jekyll

I don't think it was necessarily that he didn't believe me. I think he didn't know how to figure out what belt to give me. He was a younger guy and maybe didn't have a lot of experience. I'm not going to hold that against him. I was pretty clueless at my first job.

That said it's always nice for customers when the staff really know their stuff. I took my bicycle in to have the rear cogs replaced (they were wearing down from a 'U' shape to a check-mark shape). A couple days later the shop phoned and I went to pick up the bike. They said "that will be $3". I said "$3?" They did not replace the cogs. Their mechanic said the cogs were fine. I said the chain was slipping under pressure. They said nothing needed to be replaced. I said "I explicitly told you to replace the cogs". They said "some people do not really know when something is worn out and our mechanic says they don't need to be replaced". I have never been back there. That was a big-box sporting goods retailer.

I took the bike to a small bike shop. I said "I would like the rear cogs replaced." He said "That means you need to replace the chain too because it stretches." I said "Thank you." He knew what he was talking about. I have been back there. I even went there to buy a horn (shaped like a t-rex dinosaur even thought I could get a horn or bell at a closer store.

Anyway about the belt. I went to PartSource. He asked about things like air conditioning. I said "no A/C". He still had a couple listed. We decided I should get the one with the description "fan, alternator and crankshaft" (since that is what I have). It fit.

It was a GoodYear 15321. I previously did not see a number on the one already in the car. It had the number 15315. I think those might be equivalent belts. http://www.internationalfilters.com/.../fanbelts.html I also checked the Goodyear web site. They list the same 15321 for my car.

chedda_j

Good way to do it is just go to a mechanics shop and let them using the measurer. "just a tool where they stretch the belt to see what size and code it is. They work great. I had this problem with my car, then i just used the tool at my shop, gave them the code, and got the proper one right away.

Kylv

while we are on the topic of belts, anyone know of an equivalent belt for the rats nest removal project? I searched all of the parts stores around here and cannot find the one they call for. or just maybe an overall length?

IanS

iTrader: (4)

If you are speaking of removing the air pump, and making it so the alt belt does not squeel then the size is 3/8 V-belt that is 22 inches long. Its really small. If they ask what vehicle, say its for a lawnmower and that you know for sure the size is 3/8 by 22. Stick to your guns and they will eventually give it to you.