Belt shread, and tensiner pulley melted - again - why and what to do now?

[doitmyself]

A few weeks ago, My belt had broken while I was driving, I managed to drive the short distance home but without Power Steering etc. I Changed the Tensioner Pulley (its wheel had been burned/melted) and installed a new belt (1195 with A/C). I thought I solved the problem successfully for about 600 KM Until....

Dejavu! The Belt was again ripped apart, the tensioner pulley wheel melted and unable to turn (I had smelled smoke of it or the belt also)

2000 - 1600 Petrol (VW Bora) Seat Cordoba.
So: 1) If my repair was bad would it have lasted all the 500 or more kilometers I did since I replaced them?

2) Is it likely the part was bad (belt was new, tensioner was used - but wheel turned fine)?

3) Last but not least, is it possible that it is yet a 3rd problem which causes the tensioner to melt and belt to burn???

Thanks!!

Hope its ok to also post here for Cordoba. If not feel free to remove this one.

[Doctle Odd]

There has to be some pulley or tensioner locking up. A new tensioner is quite cheap and unless you know the history of used parts like tensioners leave them to be someone else's trouble

[doitmyself]

There has to be some pulley or tensioner locking up. A new tensioner is quite cheap and unless you know the history of used parts like tensioners leave them to be someone else's trouble



Thanks much, will go get - all new tensioner and belt tommorow!

[Doctle Odd]

check your other pulleys, A/C steering pump etc are free and aligned

[Waddellg]

When Fitting the new belt, check not only all the pulley's are free but also correctly aligned and clean. If the pulley is out of alignment, it will pull on the belt and rub against it which will cause friction and the belt to heat also, dirt caught between the pulley and the belt could also cause some friction again leading to melting - another thing to check is do you have a genuine VAG part or equivalent? My mechanic pulled a belt off of mine when he was fixing my alternator as it wasn't the correct one aparrently it had less groves in it than it should have.