Hello amazing FiatForum members.

I am having an issue with my 2005 Punto mk2b 1.2 16v. I have been having the alternator belt flopping when the car is in drive/reverse (speedgear) and/or when the AC is on. The problem only occurs when starting to drive (not more than 1400rpm) and then it flows normally. I have heard about the possibility of a failing alternator belt tensioner and I replaced it with a brand new one with no luck. The belt is also new. No pulley wobble is present and all pulleys run silk smooth. Can anyone please help me resolve this issue?

P.S. Some forums of other cars state that it might be a failing internal clutch in the alternator (as the alternator pulley is a normal one and not an overrunning alternator pulley). Is that possible?

Thank you all in advance. Your help is highly appreciated.

A flopping belt?
Pictures needed? Or a video

If the belts sloppy / not sufficient tension causing it flap around u need to check the tensioner and all the pulleys

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

A flopping belt?
Pictures needed? Or a video

If the belts sloppy / not sufficient tension causing it flap around u need to check the tensioner and all the pulleys

Ziggy

Click to expand...

The OP changed the tensioner and says the pulleys all run silk smooth.

Maenbata are you saying this only happens when A/C is on? that 'and/or' is a bit confusing!

The A/C compressor has a clutch maybe an intermittant contact for the wiring there? I suspect you are saying the problem happens with or without A/C

Ziggy122 said:

A flopping belt?
Pictures needed? Or a video

If the belts sloppy / not sufficient tension causing it flap around u need to check the tensioner and all the pulleys

Ziggy

Click to expand...

Hey Ziggy,

Well the tensioner has been replaced with a brand new one and it still exists. I will try to provide you with a video or images to make it clearer.

Thanks

judderbar said:

The OP changed the tensioner and says the pulleys all run silk smooth.

Maenbata are you saying this only happens when A/C is on? that 'and/or' is a bit confusing!

The A/C compressor has a clutch maybe an intermittant contact for the wiring there? I suspect you are saying the problem happens with or without A/C

Click to expand...

Hey judderbar,

Thanks for your reply. The flopping happens with or without A/C. However, it is more visible with the clutch engaged, and that is why I suspected the alternator as it is under more load when A/C is on. Also, I might suspect a worn harmonic balancer (crank pulley).

The video I will upload will show it from that angle for you to judge.

judderbar said:

The OP changed the tensioner and says the pulleys all run silk smooth.

Maenbata are you saying this only happens when A/C is on? that 'and/or' is a bit confusing!

The A/C compressor has a clutch maybe an intermittant contact for the wiring there? I suspect you are saying the problem happens with or without A/C

Click to expand...

Hey judderbar,

Thanks for your reply. The flopping happens with or without A/C. However, it is more visible with the clutch engaged, and that is why I suspected the alternator as it is under more load when A/C is on. Also, I might suspect a worn harmonic balancer (crank pulley).

The video I will upload will show it from that angle for you to judge.

Hi again,

I have uploaded a video to show the problem clearly. It shows the car idling in neutral, and then the car in reverse and drive. As I apply the accelerator while the brakes are engaged (1200 - 1400 rpm), the alternator belt starts flopping.

Link: drive . google . com/open?id=0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA

I hope this helps.

P.S. The URL has spaces as I am still not allowed to post URLs

does alternator spin free with belt off?

Yes it spins free and there is no grinding noise coming from it.

MaenBata said:

Yes it spins free and there is no grinding noise coming from it.

Click to expand...

scratching my head then im afraid
oh and cant get video to work can you not put it on youtube and link it?

MaenBata said:

Hi again,

I have uploaded a video to show the problem clearly. It shows the car idling in neutral, and then the car in reverse and drive. As I apply the accelerator while the brakes are engaged (1200 - 1400 rpm), the alternator belt starts flopping.

Link: drive . google . com/open?id=0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA

I hope this helps.

P.S. The URL has spaces as I am still not allowed to post URLs

Click to expand...

wrong link

flisko said:

wrong link

Click to expand...

corrct link, but he couldn't post the URL....
it is...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA/view

MaenBata said:

Hi again,

I have uploaded a video to show the problem clearly. It shows the car idling in neutral, and then the car in reverse and drive. As I apply the accelerator while the brakes are engaged (1200 - 1400 rpm), the alternator belt starts flopping.

Link: drive . google . com/open?id=0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA

I hope this helps.

P.S. The URL has spaces as I am still not allowed to post URLs

Click to expand...

To make life easier...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA/view

Scudmonkey said:

To make life easier...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzdUCZvYlfpXRFh6OXU5Q3NJZDA/view

Click to expand...

Thanks Scudmonkey for reposting the link ... Appreciated

MaenBata said:

Yes it spins free and there is no grinding noise coming from it.

Click to expand...

Have you got the correct length belt? The only way the correct length belt goes on is by turning the tensioner pulley belt clockwise with a wrench and it is difficult to do it requiring you to be under the car and correctly positioned for the effort required to rotate the wrench. You can only do it from above with the long handled tool built for this job.

Take a picture of the tensioner from above and i will compare it to my 16v A/C car

Pretty sure the car system used in Finland lists two belts for my car but only one is the right length. They gave me both and I took the other one back.

.

judderbar said:

Have you got the correct length belt? The only way the correct length belt goes on is by turning the tensioner pulley belt clockwise with a wrench and it is difficult to do it requiring you to be under the car and correctly positioned for the effort required to rotate the wrench. You can only do it from above with the long handled tool built for this job.

Take a picture of the tensioner from above and i will compare it to my 16v A/C car

Pretty sure the car system used in Finland lists two belts for my car but only one is the right length. They gave me both and I took the other one back.

Click to expand...

I am not sure how clear the image is. However, it shows the tensioner assembly. The belt used is a MITSUBA 5PK1145, which I believe is the standard size for this particular model (correct me if I am wrong).

MaenBata said:

I am not sure how clear the image is. However, it shows the tensioner assembly. The belt used is a MITSUBA 5PK1145, which I believe is the standard size for this particular model (correct me if I am wrong).

Click to expand...

Are you using a ribbed tensioner pulley? It is normal for the tensioner pulley to move around quite fast but I am not sure how it would handle having to keep the ribs in place. Plus you have to have it perfectly aligned which is unlikely.

I have packets for spk1140 and spk1153 belts. From memory I was wanting to replace a 1145 and they did not have one and the system listed 1145 and 1153. 1140 fitted but was very tight - almost impossible to get on. I am using 1153.

OK I can see that ribbed pulley is the crankshaft pulley...

Sorry mate. My car has a ribbed tensioner pulley!