Repair And Fix it

Water and fuel dont mix, so its never a good idea to put water into a cars gas tank. However, when water does get into a gas tank, either accidentally, or as the result of a malicious prank, the result is engine trouble.

Condensation

Water can get into a gas tank even if you didnt put it there. Sometimes water gets in through a badly sealed cap on the tank, or by natural condensation on the inside of the gas tank

Problems

Water in the gas tank may lead to the car bucking, stalling or not starting at all, or starting the car could be difficult. This is because the water and fuel separate, especially when the car has been sitting for a while, and the water sinks to the bottom with the fuel on top. Water can also get into other parts of the engine causing rust and corrosion.

Removal

The method you use to get rid of water in your cars gas tank depends on how much got in there in the first place. In the case of only a little water, an additive that dries up water could be used. The additive combines with the water as it goes through the running engine. If there is a lot of water, a mechanic will have to remove the gas. This may include removing the fuel tank from the car and putting in new filters. The tank is then put back and is filled with clean gas.

The 1996 BMW 318 TI engine comes equipped with two different accessory belts that operate all of the engine accessories. The front belt is a single V-belt that operates the air conditioner compressor, and the back belt is a single serpentine belt that operates the power steering pump, cooling fan and the alternator. Both belts are tensioned inside of each accessory pulley by two separate belt tensioners. Excessive heat and wear can cause the belts to fray. Once the fraying becomes visible, replace the belt soon before it breaks.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and locate the belt tensioner for the air conditioner belt. The tensioner is mounted to the front of the engine block between the crankshaft and the a/c compressor. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.

2

Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt out from around the tensioner pulley, the a/c pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Remove the belt from the engine well.

3

Locate the serpentine belt tensioner mounted to the front of the engine block on the lower left hand side of the alternator. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.

4

Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt off the tensioner pulley and the remaining accessory pulleys. Remove the belt from the engine compartment.

5

Route the new serpentine belt around the accessories exactly as described by the belt routing diagram that is stamped to the top of the fan shroud. Once the belt is inside the accessory pulleys, turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again and slide the belt around the tensioner pulley. Release the breaker bar and remove it from the tensioner.

6

Route the new air conditioner belt around the a/c compressor pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again. Slide the belt around the tensioner pulley and release the breaker bar. Remove the breaker bar from the engine compartment. Look over both belts to ensure they are seated inside of each accessory pulley.

7

Crank the engine for 10 to 15 seconds to completely seat the new belts inside the accessory pulleys. Turn the engine off.

Putting a new belt on a supercharged Pontiac Grand Prix is nearly identical to putting the belt on a standard Grand Prix. The Grand Prix GTP was introduced in 1997, and with it the supercharged 3800 Series II. The Grand Prix GTP with the supercharged 3800 motor was capable of producing between 200 and 240 horsepower, depending on the use of L36 or L67 engine models. The belt routing between the L36 and L67 is an identical procedure. The Grand Prix was replaced by the Pontiac G6 and G8, before Pontiac was removed in 2009 from the General Motors line of vehicles. Pontiac produced cars since 1926.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and stand on the passenger side of the car facing the belt side of the engine. Loop the belt underneath the bottom pulley or the crank pulley, in the outer track provided. The supercharger belt on the 3800 SC is the outermost belt, as there are two belts on this engine.

2

Hold the belt taught in your right hand so you do not lose your grip on the crank pulley. Run the belts smooth side or back on the front side of the two supercharger idler pulleys. These two idler pulleys are are about three inches in diameter. The lower supercharger idler pulley sits at the two oclock position, just inches above the crank pulley. The upper idler pulley sits on the top front face of the engine.

3

Loop the inside of the belt, or the grooved side, up and over the supercharger. Maintain your grip with your right hand on the belt to maintain your positioning of the belt.

4

Set your left hand on the top of the supercharger pulley and hold the belt still. Slide your right hand down the belt toward the front of the car until you reach the tension pulley.

5

Pull the belt tight again with your right hand, and use a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket with your left hand to push the tension pulley down towards the bottom of the engine. If you feel uncomfortable in this position, set the ratchet down and grab the belt with your left hand. Use your right hand on the tension pulley if this feels more comfortable to you. Slide the belt over the tension pulley, making sure that you keep your hands clear from the point between the belt and pulley.

6

Release the tension pulley and let it retract to its upright position, and remove the ratchet and socket from the tension assembly.

7

Inspect your work to make sure the belt is centered on each pulley, and sitting in the proper channels provided in the crank pulley. Clockwise from the supercharger, your belt should go to the front side of the tension pulley, down and around the bottom of the crank pulley, up around the front sides of both idler pulleys, and back to the supercharger.