(T) Alternator belt trouble...

Hi ppl,

Posted a week or so ago about changing my alternator belt on my abarth, was told can be a tricky job, but is do-able. I come to change it when the new belt arrived, and heres the the trouble starts...

My dad, Brother and I set about taking the front wheel off, along with the cover plates to gain access to the Alternator belt, took off the Air Con belt, which was a piece of cake. When we got to the alternator belt, the only way of removing it was to cut it, which we did then went to put the new belt on. After half an hour of struggling, it was only when we had a look that the belt that came off read 4pk 668 and the replacement belt read 4pk 643, bastard we thought, sent us the wrong belt, so phoned them up to be told that the 643 is actually the belt listed as the correct one, phoned up a couple of other places too and been told the same thing. Anyone got any idea why i had a 668 on? Now i no what ya thinking, just replace it with another 668, have tried, but is nowhere as tight as it should be. Would be cool if someother abarth owners could have a look or know what belt is on theirs.

Thanks

Gregg

I think you're on your own with this one. I've had the same experience before though (but on a different car) where the belt supplied is correct as per the catalog but for some reason it's wildly different length from the belt that's on there.

If you take the original belt to any parts store they'll be able to supply you with a direct replacement of the same size and number of grooves as the original without having to worry about belt numbers.