I need some help badly guys, how the **** am I supposed to get this thing on? There is pretty much no room to get at it (and I do have fairly skinny forearms) and it just seems like it's too small to fit over the pulleys. It's the same size as the old one (which I had to use a spanner to lever off) and the alternator is fully loosened.

Its not the fan belt by the way, its the alternator belt
Our fans are turned by an electric motor

Does sound to me like you might have slightly too small a belt perhaps?

Best thing to do with this is loosen the alternator, then push it forwards (towards the front of the car) as much as it will go.
Slip the belt on over the bigger wheel (the engine one I think?) and then gently feed the belt over the other one, turning it if you can (its FAR easier to turn the alternator by hand than the engine ).
Then when the belt is on, get a spanner (longer the better) and wedge it between the alternator and the engine block. Then pull the top of the spanner towards you and thus tightening up the belt.
Then whilst holding the spaner there, use your left hand to tighten up the alternator bracket.

Im sure that LoiueBee or AlexGS will arrive soon to contradict me. Go with their opinion over mine

Sorry, my dad keeps calling it the fan belt so it's became a habit.

I've already loosened the alternator, slipped it over the engine pulley and then over the other one but I just couldn't get it on the alternator. I even tried using a foot long screw driver and trying to put it on a different pulley last.

It definitely sounds like you have the wrong belt then if it is that tight.

Nip in to Halfords tomorrow and pick one up. Its under a fiver.
Ask for one specifically for the Fiat Uno.
Has the old one snapped or it is just starting to squeal?



Don't worry about the misnaming - I still have to correct myself from calling my current girlfriend by my ex's name At least a car can't slap you, then ignore you for the rest of the week

halfords belt i think was a 675a or something?
i took off the pulley on crank to put mine on then bolted back on and tightened alternator

Ucof said:

It definitely sounds like you have the wrong belt then if it is that tight.

Nip in to Halfords tomorrow and pick one up. Its under a fiver.
Ask for one specifically for the Fiat Uno.
Has the old one snapped or it is just starting to squeal?



Don't worry about the misnaming - I still have to correct myself from calling my current girlfriend by my ex's name At least a car can't slap you, then ignore you for the rest of the week

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It's the same size as the one that came off, so someone got it on there somehow. The new one's from Halfords, they used their computer to find the right one and I watched to make sure. The old one was squeaking was starting to split, probably would have lasted a little while but I'd rather deal with this **** now while I don't need the car.

unonumero said:

halfords belt i think was a 675a or something?
i took off the pulley on crank to put mine on then bolted back on and tightened alternator

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HB825a is what it came up with on their computer, although mine is a Mk1 unlike your Mk2 so it might be different. I can't remove the crank pulley without removing the engine, there is literally just enough room to slide the belt over it, let alone get a socket in there and slide the pulley off.


The funny thing is, when the old belt was on the alternator was about half way in it's slot, yet it didn't feel really tight.

It could well be the same one as the one that came off, but if that one was also wrong, then this one will be wrong also
Did you (or your dad?) put the last one on?

This might be a wierd question, but do you have any fishing line?
Im just trying to think of a way that will help you "lever" the belt over the 2nd pulley, without being too thick and making the belt even tighter.


" The funny thing is, when the old belt was on the alternator was about half way in it's slot, yet it didn't feel really tight." - so if it was halfway, how slack was it when the alternator was at the front? Did the old one come off easily then?

Ucof said:

It could well be the same one as the one that came off, but if that one was also wrong, then this one will be wrong also
Did you (or your dad?) put the last one on?

This might be a wierd question, but do you have any fishing line?
Im just trying to think of a way that will help you "lever" the belt over the 2nd pulley, without being too thick and making the belt even tighter.


" The funny thing is, when the old belt was on the alternator was about half way in it's slot, yet it didn't feel really tight." - so if it was halfway, how slack was it when the alternator was at the front? Did the old one come off easily then?

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I'm certain it's the right one as it's what came up on there computer system, plus the old one was a Fiat belt so I presume a fiat service centre pout it on (if it's ever been changed).

Fishing line would never had worked, I don't think they make line strong enough tbh.

Even with the alternator at the front the old belt didn't seem to get any looser, I still had to use a spanner to pry it of the pulley.

I managed to get the new one on today, had to use my footlong screwdriver to lever it on a bit the pull the belt to turn the pulleys and it eventually worked it's way on. When I tried that yesterday the engine pulley wouldn't turn, so I backed it off the other way and then it worked.

How odd.

Glad you got it fixed though

Just done both the alternator belt and cam belt on my 70SX. The alternator belt was VERY hard to get on, even with the alternator pivoted as far in as it could go after loosening. I got mine on by threading it over the alternator and water pump pulleys, and then partially getting it over about a third of the crank pulley. Holding it in place I then turned the crank over, which pulled the belt onto the rest of the pulley. Job done

If you are stuck for room, have you taken off the lower plastic splash guard from the inner wing that covers the bottom of the crank pulley and alternator? This will allow better access from the driver's side wheel arch.

Also don't forget that the old drivebelt won't have the same tension (they lose their elasticity with age) as the new belt, hence the new belt will be much harder to get on.

Good to hear you got it on eventually

I'll bump this instead of making yet another thread. How are the side strips held on on my Mk1?, are there clips that will leave gaps if I remove them and can I get to these by removing the door panels? I don't want to go taking the panels off if someone knows for sure.

Side strips?
Do you mean that splash guard that 1986uno45s was talking about or am I mistaken?


Ah, I think you mean the black bits running down the length of the car.

I have no idea, but reckon there will be push plugs, that will indeed leave holes

the belt is very tight on my uno too there all the same, i fit mine on as much as you can then turn the engine over by hand at it will pull the belt on

Ucof said:

Side strips?
Do you mean that splash guard that 1986uno45s was talking about or am I mistaken?


Ah, I think you mean the black bits running down the length of the car.

I have no idea, but reckon there will be push plugs, that will indeed leave holes

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Aye I mean the black strips running down the doors. They look a little out of place as they just stop before the arches and I think it being smoother would look better. Maybe I'll see if I can get some Turbo arches some time in the future.