A/C pulley & belt - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

BOO · 2008-07-18, 08:28 AM

Ok, so I turned on the car yesturday and it started to make this squeeling noise from the engine followed by some really bad burned rubber smell in the cabin. I turn the engine off and look in te engine bay( Yeah like I know what the hell I am looking for lol) anywho I saw pieces of the "plastic" pulley on the engine and the belt was torn. My question is this: Do they make a metal rather than plastic so this doesnt happen again? (I realize I have to get to the root of the problem/find out what may have caused this) I guess Subaru put in plastic, so plastic it shall be. yes I searched but came up empty handed, I will continue my search because no A/C is NO F.U.N...
Thanks guys..

sperry · 2008-07-18, 08:57 AM

Sounds like your A/C compressor, or the clutch in the pulley seized. At best you're replacing the pulley and the belt, at worst, you're replacing the entire A/C compressor.

BOO · 2008-07-18, 09:00 AM

Awesome thanks Scott.. I will try to get pics today for you but It sounds like you know exactly what it is..

Dean · 2008-07-18, 09:26 AM

Sounds like your compressor seized up and you are spinning the belt on a frozen pulley and burning it up. Turn off the AC so you don't break the belt. (assuming the clutch will disengage)

If it was just the clutch, rubber wouldn't be burning, just a ton of squealing metal on metal clutch action.

BOO · 2008-07-18, 09:39 AM

well I turned the A/C off and took it on to the nearest shop that I could find at like 6pm(South Meadows area) and the guy at the repair shop came out, looked at the belt, Cut it off and said, "Ok you can make it home and bring it back when you can so we can fix this.. I was like huh?????

cody · 2008-07-18, 09:41 AM

Uh, doesn't that serpentine belt go around the alternator and water pump too?

sperry · 2008-07-18, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Uh, doesn't that serpentine belt go around the alternator and water pump too?

A/C is on one, powersteering and alternator share the other belt.

cody · 2008-07-18, 09:45 AM

Oh, nice. He's not crazy then Boo.

BOO · 2008-07-18, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

Oh, nice. He's not crazy then Boo.

Thats the first thing I thought.. Thats why I posted it here, to see if this was acceptable..

So, what would cause this, of course other than typical wear and tear?

Dean · 2008-07-18, 12:22 PM

Typical wear and tear and a hot climate.

Pick up one on the web and have your local Nissan dealership install it. They do good AC work.

BOO · 2008-07-18, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

Typical wear and tear and a hot climate.

Pick up one on the web and have your local Nissan dealership install it. They do good AC work.

I'll keep that in mind... Thanks Dean

M3n2c3 · 2008-07-19, 06:14 AM

I had to do the same thing with my Eagle several years back. . . I was living in Reno and driving in to Carson, AC compressor seized partway through town, and I had to cut the belt to make it back to Reno. It left shredded belt all over my engine bay and smelled terrible for a couple days. I didn't even know it had happened until we stopped at a light - there was no noise, but a lot of smoke!

100_Percent_Juice · 2008-07-22, 11:12 PM

As I sit here with my shredded A/C belt in hand... I think your car made my car sick.

BOO · 2008-07-23, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

As I sit here with my shredded A/C belt in hand... I think your car made my car sick.

Sorry man!!! Must be Contageous.

Dean · 2008-08-01, 09:50 AM

Jumping on the A/C bandwagon.

My clutch was slipping, so I took it off this AM. removed one of the three spacer washers and put it back together.

That is probably the only one I can take off before the rivets holding the clutch material on start rubbing...

As far as I can tell, you cannot buy just a clutch, you have to buy a whole compressor, so for any of you who run into a slipping issue, I suggest this method.

Next time it starts, I may call Reno Brake and see if they will put new material on the clutch plate...

cody · 2008-08-01, 10:26 AM

I had to tighten the belt...super easy to do.

2008-07-18, 08:28 AM	#1
BOO EJ205 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 2,076 Car: 12+tires Class: Spec. without hard work, nothing grows but weeds	A/C pulley & belt Ok, so I turned on the car yesturday and it started to make this squeeling noise from the engine followed by some really bad burned rubber smell in the cabin. I turn the engine off and look in te engine bay( Yeah like I know what the hell I am looking for lol) anywho I saw pieces of the "plastic" pulley on the engine and the belt was torn. My question is this: Do they make a metal rather than plastic so this doesnt happen again? (I realize I have to get to the root of the problem/find out what may have caused this) I guess Subaru put in plastic, so plastic it shall be. yes I searched but came up empty handed, I will continue my search because no A/C is NO F.U.N... Thanks guys.. __________________ LOL.. The other White Meat ... lol ------------------------------------------------ subaru(STi) is a boys car, mitsubishi(evo) is a man's car - Jeremy (Top Gear) GC,GD,GM

2008-07-18, 08:57 AM	#2
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	Sounds like your A/C compressor, or the clutch in the pulley seized. At best you're replacing the pulley and the belt, at worst, you're replacing the entire A/C compressor. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2008-07-18, 09:00 AM	#3
BOO EJ205 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 2,076 Car: 12+tires Class: Spec. without hard work, nothing grows but weeds	Awesome thanks Scott.. I will try to get pics today for you but It sounds like you know exactly what it is.. __________________ LOL.. The other White Meat ... lol ------------------------------------------------ subaru(STi) is a boys car, mitsubishi(evo) is a man's car - Jeremy (Top Gear) GC,GD,GM

2008-07-18, 09:26 AM	#4
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Sounds like your compressor seized up and you are spinning the belt on a frozen pulley and burning it up. Turn off the AC so you don't break the belt. (assuming the clutch will disengage) If it was just the clutch, rubber wouldn't be burning, just a ton of squealing metal on metal clutch action. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2008-07-18, 09:39 AM	#5
BOO EJ205 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 2,076 Car: 12+tires Class: Spec. without hard work, nothing grows but weeds	well I turned the A/C off and took it on to the nearest shop that I could find at like 6pm(South Meadows area) and the guy at the repair shop came out, looked at the belt, Cut it off and said, "Ok you can make it home and bring it back when you can so we can fix this.. I was like huh????? __________________ LOL.. The other White Meat ... lol ------------------------------------------------ subaru(STi) is a boys car, mitsubishi(evo) is a man's car - Jeremy (Top Gear) GC,GD,GM

2008-07-18, 09:41 AM	#6
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Uh, doesn't that serpentine belt go around the alternator and water pump too? __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2008-07-18, 09:45 AM	#8
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Oh, nice. He's not crazy then Boo. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2008-07-18, 12:22 PM	#10
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Typical wear and tear and a hot climate. Pick up one on the web and have your local Nissan dealership install it. They do good AC work. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids... Last edited by Dean; 2008-07-18 at 12:24 PM.

2008-07-19, 06:14 AM	#12
M3n2c3 EJ205 Real Name: Jeremiah Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 1,888 Car: Current: 2014 Forester 2.5i Premium. Old: 2005 Impreza 2.5RS, 2000 Forester L Class: RNP, long ago (see motto) "Kids are ruining autocross."	I had to do the same thing with my Eagle several years back. . . I was living in Reno and driving in to Carson, AC compressor seized partway through town, and I had to cut the belt to make it back to Reno. It left shredded belt all over my engine bay and smelled terrible for a couple days. I didn't even know it had happened until we stopped at a light - there was no noise, but a lot of smoke! __________________ Small red text that looks curious at first glance but is ultimately inconsequential

2008-07-22, 11:12 PM	#13
100_Percent_Juice (40 percent vodka) Real Name: Joel Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,446 Car: 2004WRX Class: Baby-Hauler/GroceryGetter	As I sit here with my shredded A/C belt in hand... I think your car made my car sick. __________________ "A power nap is when you sleep on someone who is weaker than you." - Dimitri Martin

2008-08-01, 09:50 AM	#15
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Jumping on the A/C bandwagon. My clutch was slipping, so I took it off this AM. removed one of the three spacer washers and put it back together. That is probably the only one I can take off before the rivets holding the clutch material on start rubbing... As far as I can tell, you cannot buy just a clutch, you have to buy a whole compressor, so for any of you who run into a slipping issue, I suggest this method. Next time it starts, I may call Reno Brake and see if they will put new material on the clutch plate... __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2008-08-01, 10:26 AM	#16
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	I had to tighten the belt...super easy to do. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Seat belt?	ScottyS	Technical Chat	2	2008-04-01 06:27 AM
Need timing belt done: where to go?	Shoobie	General Subaru Discussion & Club Chat	11	2007-10-09 04:20 PM
Swamp Cooler vs. A/C	Dean	Off Topic Chat	63	2007-08-17 12:14 PM
Crank / Timing belt issues	coronan	Technical Chat	9	2007-05-19 10:49 PM
Tool for removal of crank pulley?	SlickNick112	Technical Chat	15	2005-06-09 10:12 PM