1989 Townace/Masterace - for sale soon:-(

[bigalan]

So I picked this up three weeks ago, I believe I'm the third RR owner:-)

I'm loving it:-) Kids loving it:-) SWMBO tolerating it:-)

retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FSW&action=display&thread=135501&page=1

retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FSW&action=display&thread=115766

[richy246]

Iv,e got the 4x4 2.2 turbo diesel version,they are very versatile things.

[bigalan]

Yeah it's amazing inside:-) love all the little things like the corner lights that come on when you indicate:-) genuins:-)

This one is the 2.0 Petrol Manual RWD:-)

[bigalan]

So the van has been laid up a couple of weeks with a flat battery:-( Hoping its just the alternator belt, so ordered one which arrived today. Great I thought, even me with no mechanical knowledge can do this:-)

But......

Got belt


Took it to van


Lifted passenger seat


No sign of alternator belt. Damn. No problem, must be under drivers seat. But that doesn't lift. Cue a 30 min search for a 14mm socket in the garage. Eventually get driver seat out.



Next phase remove handbrake surround and see what's underneath



Undone some bolts. Disconnected gear lever from linkage. Now I'm stuck:-( How do I remove these clips? Tried to pop them off with screw driver but they won't budge:-(



HELP ! After almost two hours I haven't even got into the engine yet lol

[xbo11ox]

Don't just take everything to bits! The alternator belt can only be on the front of the engine and the engine is in the middle so the chances of it being under the seat are slim. Get underneath the van and see if you can see it!

DO NOT start taking out pedals and what have you!

[bigalan]

Mar 5, 2013 21:38:47 GMT xbo11ox said:

Don't just take everything to bits! The alternator belt can only be on the front of the engine and the engine is in the middle so the chances of it being under the seat are slim. Get underneath the van and see if you can see it!

DO NOT start taking out pedals and what have you!

Was under with a torch but couldn't see it. The bit I'm trying to get off is an access panel which you can see on the pic where the driver seat is out and the carpet is lifted. Unfortunately the gear lever and handbrake bolt on top of the panel.

The clips I'm trying to free are part of the link from the cables to the rods which attach to the gear lever. I won't be going near the pedals lol

[xbo11ox]

take a half-decent pic through that big hole under the passenger seat, try to see the front of the engine, and lets have a look. it can't be that hard to find.

Those clips slide vertically upwards to get them out BTW.

[75nut]

Yes if you get a scewdriver under the bottom edge of clip and lever up they should pop right off.

[bigalan]

Phone struggling but here you go:
View under passenger seat looking towards drivers side:



There it is but it heads to the far side



Dipstick in centre of van



Small access panel behind drivers seat to get to oil filter?

[richy246]

Hi,
If you go to townace.com it will show you everything you need to know about your bus.

[bigalan]

Thanks for that. Also found this:

yotavans.org/community/tips/enginecover.htm

I think I'm heading the right way lol

[Deleted]

That just looks like you need to remove the pump belt,then the alt belt and pull it over the fan?

Cant be too hard laying underneath and working from inside. Just fiddly i bet.

[bigalan]

Mar 6, 2013 12:58:02 GMT @teeone said:

That just looks like you need to remove the pump belt,then the alt belt and pull it over the fan?

Cant be too hard laying underneath and working from inside. Just fiddly I bet.

I'm hoping so. Will have a crack at the engine cover again this evening. I'm wondering if I can just leave those clips in place and leave the gear linkages intact - hopefully they'll be flexible enough to let me put the cover to one side

[xbo11ox]

I agree with that, I would say leave the cables installed and move the whole assy if you have to.

Is the old belt loose or frayed?

[bigalan]

The old belt was slipping and screeching like mad. I'm hoping it's just the belt, but can't get into it to check. The next port of call would be the alternator, which I won't be touching lol

If it's the alternator I would need to remove the engine cover anyway, but will probably pay someone to do it for me:-/

[bigalan]

Got the cover off, managed to leave everything attached to it:



3 belts look ok:-/

[bigalan]

Gonna seek professional help lol

[xbo11ox]

If its screeching a lot i'd say you're probably on the right track, did you check the belt tension?

[Mystery Machine]

I'm not too fluent on these, but the principles look very similar to the Delica which has the same type of arrangement (lift up hatch on passenger side, remove seat, handbrake and a bolted down hatch on the drivers side)

Alternator belts on the Delica are a royal pain in the arrse! You can see the alternator, see the belts easily enough, but just try getting to the adjuster....

It's like you need a universal joint in your wrist, then another about 2" further back and another somewhere between those and your elbow.

The belts on Delica's always need re-adjusting about a year after new ones are fitted. Once they bed in and stretch a bit they start to chirp when cold and eventually start to squeel! Mine have just started doing it about 2 years after being fitted but I'm just putting off re-tensioning them becuase it's a real pet hate of a job. And I'm used to doing them too!

It sounds like a similar scenario with you and all I can say is just stick with it, get all the belts tensioned and you'll be a lot happier. Removing the floorpans is a real pain the first time but as you get used to doing it, you do get quicker. I think the first time I did it I took about an hour and half (including the seat, all panels, handbrake, fuel flap release etc...) I can now do the same job in about 20 mins.

I still hate doing the alternator belts though!

Good luck Dude. ;D

[bigalan]

Quick update. Got a friend of a friend (my new mate Kris) to come round and tension the belts today. In sleet and snow lol. Tried to start it......Dead. Jump leads on....Dead. Charge for 5 mins via jump leads....Dead. Was feeling pretty down:-(

Went round to my mates and picked up a family heirloom which was modified by my dad about 30 years ago:


Spot the modification? This was probably sourced from a train lol


After 5 hours charging it started:-)



BUT the battery, oil and water lights are lit up despite checking the levels:-( Anyone know what this could be caused by? Don't want to put it back together if there's still a problem lol