Annoying Jobs...

[RustyNut]

This weekend I thought I would tackle a seemingly simple task on the car. The two fixing bolts on my engine hoist bracket (the one at the front) had worked loose and because they are both hidden beneath the PS pump bracket you can't access them to tighten properly... No problem I thought, I'll just slacken everything off and do them up. No chance! The PS belt needs to come off and the pivot bolt needs to be removed so that I can move everything enough to get the Allen Key in. No problem I thought, I'll just slip the belt off, pop the bolt out and move everything as required. No Chance!! The belt just will not come off the pulley (I'm sure the belt is too short??) and the pivot bolt can't be removed because it's that long that it fouls on the Aux rad and won't come out!! So now it seems the only way I can properly do this simple job is to remove the slam panel and the Aux rad to be able to remove the pivot bolt to be able to get enough slack to be able to remove the belt to be able to move everything just enough to tighten two f****ng bolts on a bracket I'll (hopefully) never use!!
Just wanted to share my frustration. Thanks for listening, I feel better now...

[SteveH]

That's always the way m8! One 10 pence piece that requires hours of work to get to it. Car designers, got to love 'em.

[Chuckie]

Completely sympathise with your frustrations.
Funny how some of the seemingly easy jobs can quickly esculate into some of the most annoyingly lengthy ones.
Glad a good rant has helped you relieve some of the stress for the task in hand. Let us know how you get on.

[Rikki Kitto]

My bracket was left off when I swapped my engine so it's not an issue anymore

[bluequattro]

Drip some thread lock down a piece of welding wire onto the thread. May keep it there
But if you need the bracket to take engine out you can fasten the bolts up then as other stuff needs come off anyway
Or just put straps under the engine mounts and lift that way

[mcandmar]

Yup you got it, that's just the way it is. Sometimes if you disconnect the tensioner mechanism from the PAS pump it will drop the pump down ~5mm more which may allow you to slip the belt off.

[macspring]

Changing a clutch on your gravel driveway, on axle stands.

When you get near to the end of the job, and you realise you've left a part out and you need to disassemble again, just when you thought you were finished.

BTDT once or twice over the years.