smokedvw
Well-known member
Today while replacing my alternator I was putting the serpentine belt tensioner back on and stripped the thread which the longer bolt goes into... (the top one in this picture). I am assuming I am going to have to go with a helicoil kit to fix this. The bolt does not seem to come out on the other side to use a nut and it looks like a helicoil is the only way. We pulled out the windshield washer container and figured it might be to difficult to get a small drill in this area and may have to create a manual one with the kit and a socket set.
Is this going to be a problem to not fix this bolt and rely on the other 2 to hold the tensioner? It seems like this bolt takes more of the load for the tensioner.
I was looking for any suggestions from anyone who has had to fix this at this location before.
A hard pipe (I believe AC line) runs at the bottom of where the windshield wiper holder is and because of this its hard to get a drill at a level position with the hole that the bolt goes into. I have 2 small makita drills and the driver looks like it would be just small enough but the smaller drill hits the line and cant get level.
Is this going to be a problem to not fix this bolt and rely on the other 2 to hold the tensioner? It seems like this bolt takes more of the load for the tensioner.
I was looking for any suggestions from anyone who has had to fix this at this location before.
A hard pipe (I believe AC line) runs at the bottom of where the windshield wiper holder is and because of this its hard to get a drill at a level position with the hole that the bolt goes into. I have 2 small makita drills and the driver looks like it would be just small enough but the smaller drill hits the line and cant get level.