I am in the middle of doing a few jobs on my car. One of them is replacing the alternator belt. I assumed that there would be a nut on the tensioner to slacken the belt. However mine doesn't have one and I can't tell how to get the belt off. Has anyone else done this job before?

This is the tensioner that I have on mine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belt-Tensioner-VW-Golf-Bora-1-9-TDI-ASZ-engine-/180747285775?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a1560b50f#ht_500wt_976

I am in the middle of doing a few jobs on my car. One of them is replacing the alternator belt. I assumed that there would be a nut on the tensioner to slacken the belt. However mine doesn't have one and I can't tell how to get the belt off. Has anyone else done this job before?

This is the tensioner that I have on mine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belt-Tensioner-VW-Golf-Bora-1-9-TDI-ASZ-engine-/180747285775?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a1560b50f#ht_500wt_976

Have a look at this

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=pd%20130%20aux%20belt%20tensioner&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seatcupra.net%2Fforums%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D313104&ei=SSCwTtafHce6hAfw4JH0Ag&usg=AFQjCNGvZ3XDio3RhhK-6FzQdXQVbYCpUA&sig2=hcEMxrxb6l7RCml3Ad5wsw

They're not bad to do, make a sketch of the orientation the belt runs around the pulleys. Usually theres a hole in the tensioners spring loaded arm and one in the back plate, using a spanner on the square boss release the tension on the arm and put a 5mm masonary bit through the arm and lock it into the backplate.

Remove the original belt and slide the new one over the pulleys, tension the arm again and remove the masonary drill bit and then allow the tensioner to take up slack in the belt.

Its best to keep the keys in your pocket so now one can start the car while your fingers are involved in the belt.

The masonary bit will most likely bend and be scrap afterwards, a HSS drill bit will shear and should not be used.

New tensioners come with a 5mm steel rod already pegging the tensioner.

My link

In the bottom pic you can see the peg locking the tensioner open, this is a different tensioner to yourd but the locking peg idea is the same set up.

They're not bad to do, make a sketch of the orientation the belt runs around the pulleys. Usually theres a hole in the tensioners spring loaded arm and one in the back plate, using a spanner on the square boss release the tension on the arm and put a 5mm masonary bit through the arm and lock it into the backplate.

Remove the original belt and slide the new one over the pulleys, tension the arm again and remove the masonary drill bit and then allow the tensioner to take up slack in the belt.

Its best to keep the keys in your pocket so now one can start the car while your fingers are involved in the belt.

The masonary bit will most likely bend and be scrap afterwards, a HSS drill bit will shear and should not be used.

New tensioners come with a 5mm steel rod already pegging the tensioner.

Excellent!! Thank you so much! So a 16mm spanner fits on the square at the top. I will find something to hold it open. Thanks again!!