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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

Replacement of Serpentine Belts and Tensioner

Model: BMW Serie 3 E36 - Years 1990-2001
Part: V-belt

Obtain replacement belts, tensioner wheels, tensioners, the belt installation diagram, and special tools. Start by removing the air box, disconnecting it from the air tube which also needs to be removed. Using a wrench and the appropriate tool, lock the pulley and loosen the tensioner. Remove the protective cover and, leveraging the tensioner, relieve the tension to remove the belt. Remove the bolts from the two tensioner supports and take them out. Replace the pulleys and tensioners with new parts, ensuring all components are reassembled correctly. Install the tensioners and new belts following the assembly diagram. Reinstall the cover and the air box.

Updated on 3 February 2026 by ScegliAuto

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How to Open the Bonnet of the Ford Transit Custom

On many Ford vehicles, opening the bonnet is not done using the traditional lever located in the cabin, at the bottom left on the driver's side. Instead, you must use the ignition key to unlock a lock positioned at the front of the vehicle, usually beneath the manufacturer's badge. The reason for this choice is unclear, but it can pose a difficulty if the lock becomes jammed, risking damage to the key. You can try to disengage the lock by inserting a long screwdriver through the grille of the front panel. Once the first opening is achieved, spray some unlocking fluid on the lock to allow subsequent activation with the key.

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