[FIXED] Hyundai Elantra Timing Belt - Alternator Reinstallation Issue

Hi,

I have almost completed my first water pump and timing belt installation on a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. All I have left to do is reinstall the alternator belt. However I am running into the following problem. Whenever I try to push the alternator up to put slack on the belt, the alternator hits bracket above/next to it used for tensioning and won't raise up high enough. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I had to remove the bracket when I removed water pump since two of its four bolts are actually shared with the water pump. All I can think of is that when I replaced that bracket, perhaps it moved down a little. However, it is held in place by four bolts, two for the water pump, plus two additional bolts, I don't see how that could be. If I take out the lower alternator bolt, I can get the alternator past the bracket, but then I can't get it to line back up on the bottom to put the bolt back in.

Any ideas? I have attached a few images to help explain what I mean.

Hey scarney! I see your screenshots are from a YouTube video, can you provide the link? Just trying to get a better idea of how this bracket goes on.

Do you have any reason to believe the water pump you put on was different from the old one? Just wondering if the bracket mounting surfaces are different, causing the bracket to be pushed too far outboard.

Here is the link to the YouTube video. I can try to post better pictures of the bracket. I didn't have access to the vehicle today so I used the YouTube video,

The part was and OEM Hyundai part from the parts department, they looked the same. The only way I could see it moving was if the bolt holes in the bracket happened to be a little larger than necessary, which could provide some wiggle room. Unfortunately, to take the bracket bolts off, I'd have to take out the engine mount so I could remove the power steering pulley....etc. I'd basically have to do almost the whole job over again, so I was hoping to get a better idea of what might be wrong before I ripped everything apart again. Thanks.

Steve

Thanks for the video link. The only way I can figure that the alternator adjusting bracket would be too far outboard, is if the power steering mounting bracket is also too far outboard. Tough to say how that'd happen from the video, but that's my best guess. I was going to ask if you possibly had the wrong alternator, but then I saw it fit correctly in the video.

I'm sorry sir, but I think you're down to taking some of it back apart again.

I took everything apart and found that the bolt holes on the alternator adjuster bracket are deliberately larger to allow the position of the bracket to be adjusted slightly. I just had to raise the bracket up a bit and everything fit perfectly. Check out my YouTube video where you can see me slightly moving the bracket once the bolts are loose. Thanks for you help everyone.

Steve