Yesterday my 2001 VDP S/C shredded an almost new serpentine belt while driving. I put on a new belt and the car drove fine - no noises from any pulleys or accessories. This morning when I started the car and the tensioner pulley was jumping back and forth and the new belt started to shred as if some accessory or idler pulley is binding


The tensioner pulley, idler pulley, alternator, water pump, and power steering all rotate by hand without binding or grinding or roughness. The A/C pulley ( spinning free - car is off) is fine but the compressor itself requires some twist to rotate by hand. It needs way more hand turning force than any other pulley or accessory.


Could the A/C compressor be what is binding?


Is there a way to check how much rotation force is normal for the compressor?


Does the compressor engage even if the A/C button is off? I have it off but this seems to be what is binding


thanks for any help

 

The compressor should not engage with the AC control 'off'.

If you have problems turning the compressor with the engine off the electric clutch has failed as well as, potentially, the compressor itself.

 

Thanks for responding


The outer pulley on the compressor spins freely as it should with the car off (compressor disengaged). I can reach inside the clutch pulley and rotate the compressor and it feel stiff to turn. It is much harder to spin than the alternator, power steering or water pump

 

The compressor is a little pump trying get pressure up to 200 psi or more. It will feel stiff but if you can rotate it 360 degrees it is probably not the problem you describe.

 

Bad tensioner or loose power steering pump

 

Since the car has 118K miles I ordered a new tensioner pulley and idler pulley and will install those with 2 new belts and see what happens.
Thanks guys for the advice

 

Somewhere in my dark and clouded memory is a note about bolts being loose on the PS pump and allowing the pulley to hit something occasionally.

. . . or maybe that was on a Volvo.

 

Your memory is correct. This forum.

 

I installed a new idler pulley, a new tensioner and pulley, and a new belt. This seems to have cured the problem based on 2 start and drive cycles. More start-ups at frigid temperatures will tell


Test point and Jhartz thank you for your help

 

Please use the thanks icon.

Did you check the power steering bolts?

 

Jim - I checked the power steering pump today and I don't see any loose bolts and the 3 pulley bolts are tight and there is no play at all in the power steering pulley