Ok.. bought a little kit with the drive belt included. At the time of order, it asked if the car was built before or after 10/95. Mines 11/95 so I put that. All's good. right? Nope, I received a 6k1872 belt but the car currently has the 6k1863, 9mm smaller. Ok, I thought then it has to do with the tensioner, so I looked it up and 99% of the places only list one:




Ok, thats what I have. Then, hitting Blauparts I see there is 2 different ones depending on VIN if you buy the kit, but only ONE if you get just the tensioner. Whats up with that?

I understand there's a smaller one on the car... guess I'm asking if maybe the last tech put on the wrong belt since this has what I'm guessing is the updated tensioner, and maybe this is why the belt wore out so quick and the tensioner is making noise?

Opinions?

 

I bought both my belt and tensioner (it was an afterthought) from Arizona Autohaus.
The old belt: 6PK 1865
The new belt: 6PK 1872 . I would have never bothered to look at the numbers, if it wasn't for this post of yours.
If you remember from the pics I posted in the other thread, the old belt looked pretty worn out on the "smooth" side (indentation-like footprints of both halves of the tensioner). Also, the old tensioner's pulley makes a "bad bearing" noise when you spin it freely.

The new tensioner is a Ruville/Ina/Litens

I hope I bought the right parts...

 

Hmm... Guess I'll just have to try it.

 

By the way, do you pull the pin out after threaded the bolt in a few revolutions?

 

No, the pin holds it 'loose'. You pull the pin after its in and tightened and the belt is on. Put a socket on the arm to hold it and let it go slowly. Counterclockwise is tensioned, clockwise is release tension. You'll see.



Well, I put it on and it works fine. Its actually alittle tighter than the one that came off. Must be a British thing; Bigger numbers mean smaller belt?

We'll see if it holds. I actually think it might stretch and squeal sooner than the 1863 belt like at 30k instead of 50k. I put the old belt in the trunk just in case.