Okay, I have a shitty story to tell... I got my timing belt changed this past weekend. Turned out it had been changed about 30,000 ago anyway (30,000 later than it should have been since I'm at 120,000) but better safe than sorry. My mechanic cousin didn't put the AFX pulley back on all the way. Next day I shred my brand new power steering belt all to hell. I order one that is one size too big cause they can't get the right one for a couple of days and I have to drive back to school (i've used this belt before anyway and it works fine, I just tighten down the tensioner more and it squeals a lot when cold). I put that bad boy on Sunday morning. I start her up and the damn belt starts walking off the AC pulley one groove at a time. Now, I know it's not the crank pulley because i went back and fixed that, even lined it up with a square. It looks to me like the tensioner pulley got out of whack somehow and it is causing the shift on the AC pulley. So after all of that, has anyone else experienced this after a timing belt install or at all? Any suggestions short of welding little plates on the outside of the AC pulley to make sure the belt doesn't come off? Could I put a washer in between the tensioner and it's bracket to make it farther out so the belt isn't hanging over the edge? help me please.

Avery

i say get the right belts first and install them. Do a search on the belt ## for the afx udp im sure you can find them.

I know what the size is. The point is when I had this belt on before it never did this. Is it possible that the tensioner could have been damaged when the other stuff was being removed?

it could have, but i say you take it back to the mechanic and excercise his guarantee on his work....:shrug

eh... cousin in law equals free work equals notta for me. I'm going to try to put a washer in between the pulley and its mount the next time i have to shift the belt over. Thanks everyone.

Avery

I would not recommend you doing that.

Does the belt have less than a 1/2" of deflection in it's longest stretch?

Yes. It is most definitely tight enough. As you look at the belt from the front the belt is hanging off the left side of the tensioner pulley. Looking straight down on the AC pulley the belt has skipped one groove to the left and is trying to "walk off the pulley." What this tells me is that the tensioner is out of whack because that is where it all starts.

Avery

Here is a better solution that will solve all of your future tensioner problems. TAKE OUT THE TENSIONER ASSEBMPLY COMPLETELY! Buy a shorter belt for the A/C and PS. Tension The Belt Using The Power Steering Assembly. This is a easeir solution to tighten the belt and it will most likely solve your problem and give less squeels.

That certainly is an interesting solution. You have any idea about what size belt? How adjustable is the PS assembly?

Avery

I have no idea what belt length to use. That depends on your pully. Just take a tape measure and wrap it around the pullies. It should be around 35-40 inches. Mine is a 37". The part you tension is the power steering sytem located by the radiatior cap area. The top system. I believe there are three bolts to tension it. One on the right of it by the header, and 2 to the left closest to the passenger side of the car. Then you can move it up and down to tighten the belt. This should hep you out.

I have no idea what belt length to use. That depends on your pully. Just take a tape measure and wrap it around the pullies. It should be around 35-40 inches. Mine is a 37". The part you tension is the power steering sytem located by the radiatior cap area. The top system. I believe there are three bolts to tension it. One on the right of it by the header, and 2 to the left closest to the passenger side of the car. Then you can move it up and down to tighten the belt. This should help you out.

EDIT: Woops Double Post.

i used to have this with my acc belt after i had an accident in which i was rear ended, and dropped the clutch hard in 1st gear. the load snapped the pulley shaft on my ac compressor, causing the belt to slowly slip off until it shredded or just fell off. check all the pulleys for any play, if you put on a stopper, its eventually going to wear thing on it and break anyway....