alternator belt question
 

87TII

Well I tried to change my alternator belt yesterday, but ran into a problem. The belt I got from Mazdatrix, which looking back at their site appears to be for both a turbo and an NA, doesn't want to fit on my TII. In order to make it fit, I would have to mash the alternator down into my wiring harness and absolutely MANGLE it to make things fit. I'm thinking this is why the positive terminal on the alternator sticks out to the driver's side on a TII as opposed to almost straight up on the NA.

So my question is fairly simple and stupid - do they sell generically sized belts at auto parts stores? Hopefully for cheaper than the Mazdatrix stuff?

Yes, they have cheap ones, then higher priced like Dayco, etc. Just tell them what you need, and bring what you have to compare sizes.

Um, there should not be ANY wires running under the alternator!


-Ted

Thanks Jerry.

Ted, first of all, those avatars of yours are going to just end me someday.

Secondly, Ok maybe UNDER isn't the best way to put it. Under and BEHIND is more like it. Running like, in front of and sort of below the TB/TPS and all that. But sticking directly toward the back of the car, on the bottom part of the rear of the alternator, is this random little cylindrical portion of the alternator's body that smashes into my wiring harness if I try to lower the alternator enough on the bracket to fit the belt I had on my NA on it. Unless Mazdatrix sold me some strangely short belt, which seems very possible as it is quite small. Though I know I fit it on my NA when it was still alive...

Does that make any sense?