My 84 2.5 lost a belt two weeks ago. I noticed because the temp gauge had gone into the red, and the dash light came on. I stopped immediately, and noticed there was no belt. Went to the auto parts store, and got a new one. Put it on, and a week later (about 75 miles), I had the same situation.

In doing a search, I see that there are two belts used on my car, the other one being for the A/C. But the fact that there are two slots on the crank and water pump pulley make me wonder if there's too much stress on the single belt, and I should have both belts on there? The single belt theory worries me, since when that belt goes, there's nothing running the water pump, and it overheats. Quickly.

Everything looks to line up fine, and it has a new alternator.

Ideas?

I have an 84 and only have one belt, the AC isn't working yet. Non Ac cars only had one belt so I don't think that's the issue. Are your pulleys in good shape? Check for wobble or damaged grooves. Did you use a good belt? Was it tightened correctly?

probably a mis-aligned pulley or something similar, as you can run with just one belt, just like a non-ac car.

84s used 2 different crank pulleys. One had a smaller diameter out groove with a larger inner groove. The second type of pulley had both grooves the same diameter. If you have the one with the smaller diameter, the outer groove was used only to run the AC with a short belt. If both grooves are the same diameter then a longer belt was used. It went up around the outer water pump groove and then the ac. The other (inner) belt went from the crank to water pump to alternater via the inner grooves.

If you have the crank pulley with the two different sized grooves DO NOT try to put the outer belt on the water pump. If you do you will have two different belts running a different speeds trying to drive the water pump. It won't work.

By the way when you lost your belt your alternator/voltage light should have come on immediately to let you know you had a problem. You may want to check the bulb. Might save you from a cracked/warped head.

edit: Last year I was desperate and got a CHEAP belt from Auto Zone. It didn't last a week. Got a good Gates belt from a local parts store and it been good ever since.

[This message has been edited by 2farnorth (edited 06-08-2011).]

Is your water pump ok? Does your broken belt look burned up or slick and shiny on the inside? If your water pump is failing and putting drag on the belt, you'll want to replace that asap. Your pump should spin w/o too much difficulty. Also, be sure you tension your belt properly.

All the best,
Michael

------------------
"A guy know's he's in love when he loses interest in his car for a few days." -Tim Allen

He who dies with the most toys... still dies.


My '84 Resto

quote Originally posted by 2farnorth: By the way when you lost your belt your alternator/voltage light should have come on immediately to let you know you had a problem. You may want to check the bulb. Might save you from a cracked/warped head.

My 84 (and other 84's I have owned) doesn't have a Volt idiot light so you won't know you've lost the belt until the temp idiot light comes on or you notice the volt gauge is low or temp gauge is high.

Yeah, I didn't think it had an idiot light. Which is why I'd like to have another belt in those additional grooves to provide some insurance. For now, the Fiero sits until I get this figured out.

Thanks to all who gave me things to think about.

quote Originally posted by TONY_C: My 84 (and other 84's I have owned) doesn't have a Volt idiot light so you won't know you've lost the belt until the temp idiot light comes on or you notice the volt gauge is low or temp gauge is high.

Yeah I forgot about 84 having a meter instead of a light. Would have had to see the meter dropping.
I've got an 84 engine in my 86 and it has the different sized grooves on the crank pulley. Can't run a second belt to the water pump like I used to do on my 85s..

edit: The cheap belt I got from AZ never broke either. It just rolled over in the groove and popped off. When I pulled it out it was all twisted.

[This message has been edited by 2farnorth (edited 06-08-2011).]

quote Originally posted by KraigG: Yeah, I didn't think it had an idiot light. Which is why I'd like to have another belt in those additional grooves to provide some insurance. For now, the Fiero sits until I get this figured out. Thanks to all who gave me things to think about.

Did you have a good quality belt? There are some cheapo chinese imports now. Are you sure the alternator isn't loose now? Perhaps it moved and is now loose.

quote Originally posted by TONY_C: Did you have a good quality belt? There are some cheapo chinese imports now. Are you sure the alternator isn't loose now? Perhaps it moved and is now loose.

The belt I got was from Auto Zone. Being an emergency situation, with the car on the side of the road, and nighttime fast approaching, I didn't have much choice.

Do you really think it makes that much difference? I hope it's that easy!

I'll go to NAPA and get a real belt.

Okay. I've ordered a real, honest-to-God AC Delco belt for the Fiero. I'll get it in a few days, put it on, and drive it for a few weeks, and report back. Let's hope this is the answer.

In the mean time check your alternator pivot bolt and mount. Make sure it's not loose. Then look at the alignment of the 3 pulleys. Does one of them look like it has any angle that is different from the other two?

To the naked eye, everything looks to be in alignment. The alternator's not loose, nor has it ever been. In fact, it was difficult to loosen it to get the new belt on. Needed to use a metric socket, which I thought was strange.

quote Originally posted by KraigG: To the naked eye, everything looks to be in alignment. The alternator's not loose, nor has it ever been. In fact, it was difficult to loosen it to get the new belt on. Needed to use a metric socket, which I thought was strange.

Fiero pretty much uses metric for everything.... pretty much

Could it just have been a bad belt? Maybe it was too tight or too loose?

Got the issue solved today. Found out that the base of the battery box was rusty, so the battery was shifting to the left, and the battery is surrounded by a plastic cover on that side. The car would turn, or hit a bump, the battery would shift to the left, and the plastic housing would come in contact with the belt, and either break it, or send it flying.

I got a guy to weld a corner onto the base of the battery box, so now it won't shift. Oh yeah, and I removed that plastic side panel!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

quote Originally posted by KraigG: The thrown belt has some of the wording rubbed off on the outside of the belt. Odd. Confusing. Irritating.

Guess that explains this part huh? Whats your fix? My batt. box is looking a lil rough too.

edit; any chance of a pic? and typos!

[This message has been edited by weloveour86se (edited 06-16-2011).]

quote Originally posted by weloveour86se: Guess that explains this part huh? Whats your fix? My batt. box is looking a lil rough too. edit; any chance of a pic? and typos!

Sorry, no fix for the battery box. I'm sure there are others on here that have solved that problem- do a search, I'm sure you'll find an answer.

quote Originally posted by weloveour86se: Guess that explains this part huh? Whats your fix? My batt. box is looking a lil rough too. edit; any chance of a pic? and typos!

A TEMPORARY fix can be bungee cord around the sides of the battery and hooked to the sheet metal. One heavy enough to keep the battery from slideing in left turns,

finally got my new alternator belt... any pictures to show how its routed? (this is an 85 btw)

When our 85 SE had the duke in it, the rusty battery tray let the water pump pulley eat away at the plastic side shield, THEN the battery started moving and the water pump dug a big groove into the battery...needless to say that area rusted up pretty quick.

Our duke was missing the A/C compressor and had only one belt as well. Never had an issue with the belt.

Whoops, double post.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-29-2012).]

I also use the thick rubber bungie cord to strap the battery.
My Fiero does not have AC any more, so I put a dual grove pulley on my alternator, and use dual belts.
If you have the crank pulley with equal size groves, I recommend using two belts, crank to alternator to water pump and back to crank.
If you have AC, then forget the alternator pulley, but use the AC belt on the water pump, IF the pulley on the crank is equal size grooves.