Weird Belt Problem

[gradymotorco]

Hey y'all,

I've run into a really weird problem on my 95 Tahoe. I took it to the AC shop this week to get it charged up & find out where it was leaking from. The AC tech said that it had a small leak from the compressor & he could put some 'Red Angel' in the system to take care of it. Well, after getting a $500 quote for installing a new compressor, I went along with it. When I went to pick up the truck, it seemed fine & blew cold air. Then as I turned to pull out of the lot, I suddenly lost power steering & my alt light came on. I realized that the belt had jumped off, so I backed into the shop's parking lot & went to tell the mechanic. He suddenly got defensive & told me that "nobody had touched the [censored] belt." I managed to get him to lend me a 5/8 wrench so I could get the old belt back on, and after doing so got her home with no problem, since I never cut on the AC. I went out & bought a new belt that night & put it on this morning, and I thought she was fine, until this evening I turned to pull out of my driveway & sure enough, she flew off. I've never ran into this sort of problem before, but I assume that since it still does it with a new belt, but only when the AC is on, that the compressor is causing some sort of extra strain on a component of the belt drive that's making it fly off. Please give me some advice on this, as I'm having a hard time convincing the other half & myself that it's not time to buy another SUV.

Thanks!

 

[wallyuwl]

Perhaps the compressor they put on wasn't right and has a smaller diameter pulley wheel on it, causing the belt to be more slack and fly off?

 

[Nick R]

Maybe the tensioner is worn out, so when the compressor comes on, it can't keep high enough tension on the belt, and it flies off?

 

[spasm3]

if your compressor is locking up or very hard to turn, it could be throwing the belt.

 

[crinkles]

i've got a really really bad belt problem too, no matter what i do i need to move to the next notch every christmas...

 

[wallyuwl]

I didn't think of the tensioner. You should probably replace that anyway if it hasn't been replaced in the last few years. I've never had good luck with aftermarket tensioners lasting more than two or three years (regardless of mileage), and I'm guessing your tensioner isn't the original being a 1995 vehicle.

 

[S2500Dog]

Check the tensioner and pully to see if they are putting any strains on the belt. Check to see to if the compressor is correct and applicable for your vehicle. I would make that sorry SOB mechanic go back and correct his half *** mistakes instead of being a big **** in front of your face.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
I would make that sorry SOB mechanic go back and correct his half *** mistakes instead of being a big **** in front of your face


I don't think he made any mistakes. Except maybe not revving the engine after he charged it.

This condition ..or rather what's allowing this to occur is new. The system was discharged so that it never showed itself until the mechanic re-enabled the compressor with new refrigerant.

Now he's just wrongly showing anxiety over it with his defensive posture. He should have been curious and said "

Let's see what's up here

"

 

[bluestream]

I am surprised any respectable AC shop would use that sealer. It is pure [censored] and is prone to blocking systems up. I would guess your compressor may be locking up from it..

 

[FusilliJerry82]

Never use a stop-leak in an AC system unless you are of the opinion that should the stop-leak not work, there's still no way you would EVER spend the money to fix the leak properly. Because a stop-leak will very likely make things worse and almost unfixable.

 

[38sho]

what a piece of [censored] shop!

they put on a new compressor, and then when the belt blew off just outside their door he said they didn't touch the belt(impossible) and wouldn't even put it back on for you and gave u the tool to do it?

I would NEVER go back there again, and it defintely sounds like a compressor problem that is throwing your belt off...... it never did it before and now the the addition of a new compressor you keep throwing off belts? hmmmmmmm points to one thing

a bad tensioner wouldn't keep throwing off belts, letting it slip and make noises yes.... unless they screwed it up putting on the belt and tweaked it so it no longer lines up as it should

this is comming from a mechanic, and customer service is our #1 priority at our shop, besides fixing your car great. Can't believe people act like that out there, especially after you spend money with them.

 

[demarpaint]

Stop leak is a no no. i would examine the tensioner first, but seriously doubt it is at fault. My bet is the compressor is locking up and tossing the belt.

Try taking the belt off and seeing if the compressor is binding or locking up. You might also try, if you have the time and cash to burn, is get a belt smaller than what you have run it w/o routing it to the AC. Take the car for a ride and see if it tosses the belt. If it doesn't you know the AC is to blame. JMO

 

[tomcat27]

I would replace the compressor and the tensioner, which will cost less than two car payments. of course, I dont know your Tahoe's vitals, (miles, condition) etc. certainly a 15 year old truck could be still in good shape, or could be a candidate for replacement.

 

[gradymotorco]

Wow! Thanks for all the great responses! Just to clarify, the mechanic did NOT replace the compressor, it's still the 15 year old GM-Harrison original. I wanted him to replace it, but he practically refused. I reckon that should have been cause for me to go pick it up & find somebody else, but there really aren't that many shops that deal with AC around here, & I knew that the local Chevy dealer would come up with a $1,000+ bill for doing the job. Anyhow, with the belt off, the compressor pulley turns easily & smoothly. Also, if you rev the engine up, the belt stays on with no problem. It only comes off when you make a hard turn at low speed, which implies to me that there's something that can't handle the combined pressure of the P/S pump & the A/C compressor. The tensioner is also the factory original, so its definitely time to swap it out. I also considered replacing the A/C idler pulley, since its of the same vintage.

 

[demarpaint]

Is the PS unit operating properly, or is it binding?

 

[The_Jeff]

Can you throw a wrench/tool on the tensioner and work it? I bet it feels sticky.

The mechanic probably took the belt off to feel "something" in the compressor pulley by hand; That stretched the tensioner beyond its comfort zone.

 

[gradymotorco]

The power steering seems to be functioning just like it always has... I haven't been paying a whole lot of mind to it when I've been under the hood though, so its definitely worth a check. The tensioner seems really tight. I had such a hard time moving it with a 5/8 wrench that I had to pull out a 1/2 breaker bar with a 5/8 bit on it to get the new belt on, so I suppose that ought to have told me something lol.

 

[The_Eric]

WOW! Just WOW! What absolutely [censored] poor reading comprehension by some members here! How can a guy expect to get any help if not everybody bothers to fully read the topic???

O/P- can you tell how the tensioner "feels"? Does it feel stiff and inflexible, or does it readily move well past where the belt would be? (with the belt off)

It'd be a safe bet to replace the tensioner assy, being the original. Even if the tensioner has some life left in it, the bearing has to be nearly shot.

Why don't you start there since it's due, inexpensive and easy to replace then report back.

 

[gradymotorco]

Update-

After I got off work this evening, I proceeded to start replacing the tensioner. As I was taking off the fan shroud to gain more clearance, I noticed that the water pump was leaking. So that's yet another thing to add to the list of components to replace. Any suggestions on a good replacement brand for a new water pump & new radiator hoses, thermostat?

 

[The_Eric]

Around here, you're pretty much stuck with a Cardone pump regardless of what name is on the box. Could be different in your neck of the woods. For belts and hoses, I'm preferential to Goodyear and for thermostats, I very much prefer O.E.M.