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[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I could have sworn it should be 2020mm ?
Just tried fitting a new (Gates) 2020 belt and no way will it go on. I would guess it needs to be about 20mm longer. 

Edit. It should be a 2020 belt. I suppose I ought to measure it. Although the belt has 2020 written on it, so unlikely to be short
Im certain Im routing it correctly.

[Doctor Gollum]

Clockwise from the crank as you look at it...

Alternator up to idler/tensioner across to PS down to AC up to WP ( back of belt) and back to the crank.

Two ways to actually fit it iirc, either over the tensioner pulley or WP pulley last with it loosely fitted over the others. Starting at the WP should allow you to get it seated on everything else except the tensioner

In theory it should slip onto the WP as it's the smooth side of the belt, but it can be a fight to get the tensioner over enough to do it. Using a longer bar can help but mind your head if it slips.

With both belts off they should be roughly the same length allowing for stretch on the old one

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Tried all of the above. Used a two foot breaker bar for leverage and got my son to hold it in just the right place, while I tried to fit the belt.
No luck.
Only thing I can think of trying tomorrow is to heat it a bit hoping it will expand and soften a bit and allow it to slip onto a pulley.

[JamesV6CDX]

Where abouts are you in the world?

I’ve always maintained 6PK2020 puts too much strain on the tensioner pulley and requires all of its travel, I fit a 2040 to my cars, the extra 2cm puts the tensioner bang in the middle of its travel which seems ideal

But 2020 should still go on easily enough. Happy to peek if you’re semi local

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Im on the Essex / Suffolk border James.
Thanks for the offer but I managed to get it on there today. In the end I did it like kind of fitting a bicycle tyre. One screwdriver under it to hold it onto the water pump pulley and another slid up under the belt (a couple of inches away from the first one) and levered it up and onto the pulley.
I agree regarding the length. Its too tight for my liking. The tensioner is fully extended to the right and I imagine it will be a while before it stretches the belt a bit allowing the tensioner to back of a bit.
Dont see the need for it tbh. A slightly longer belt would be ideal. I might even change it again at some point to save wear and tear on the tensioner pulley and bearings.

[Tick Tock]

We talked about this a while ago -
https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=143630.msg1877438#msg1877438

Sometimes there appears to be no standard between engines, so just fit the length that suits - can be anything between 2020 and 2040.... they do vary for some reason.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

That was interesting, thanks. I will leave the 2020 on there for the moment, but any squealing or howling and I will quickly source a 2030.

[Doctor Gollum]

Alternator up to idler/tensioner across to PS down to AC up to WP ( back of belt) and back to the crank.

On further investigation, this is wrong.

Clockwise around the crank, up over the WP with the back of the belt, down to the alternator, up to the tensioner, across to the PS pump, down to the AC and back to the crank.

In theory everything is still turning the correct direction, but it could impact belt length.

[Nick W]

That was interesting, thanks. I will leave the 2020 on there for the moment, but any squealing or howling and I will quickly source a 2030.

The longer belt is far more likely to do that.


The serpentine belt is expected to simultaneously drive a high-output alternator, large A/C compressor, power steering pump and water pump across the engine's entire rev range(0 to 6500). That's a lot to ask, and is why it is under far more tension than a simple V-belt.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Makes sense. 

[omega2018]

Check your alternator bolts - "ensure that the mounting bolts pass through the cast engine block mounts or you will experience difficulty in re-fitting the aux belt." https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=107049.msg1352821#msg1352821   Very easy to get a bolt outside the case without noticing - until you try and fit a 2020 belt.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Alternator has never been touched in the eight years Ive owned the car. 

[omega2018]

The alternator will run quite happily with the bolt outside the block, don't see why it wouldn't last 8 years like that.  Except that a 2020 belt fitted (by force) 8 years ago would likely wear out numerous bearings before their time...