Squealing and whirring from AC belt

[Technikhaus]

Hey all,
So starting yesterday I noticed that my AC belt started squealing, I got home, saw that it was a little looser than the other belt so I tightened it a bit.
When I left this morning it was better for the first 10KM or so, then it started again, but now there is also a whirring noise coming from the same area.

The belt is hardly a year old, and looks physically fine?

Any ideas as to exactly what could be causing all this noise? I'm starting to lean towards it being a pulley maybe?

Thanks,
Braydon.

[Bennoz]

Would be the idler pulley. Amamamamamayaamamamaaaaaaaamaaaaaaaaaa is your best bet. Last one I bought ended up being about 115 bucks landed.

Which is 127,654,998 of your pesos

MD366344

[Technikhaus]

Thanks, Is it harmful to keep using it like that?
I won't have the money to replace it until next week or so.

[Bennoz]

It should keep. Just make sure there isn't to much lateral movement in the pulley. Because if it lets go, that belt can take out your crank angle sensor.

[Daniel2019]

Yeah and crank angle is a PITA to replace.

[Technikhaus]

It should keep. Just make sure there isn't to much lateral movement in the pulley. Because if it lets go, that belt can take out your crank angle sensor.

Sweet, it didn't seem like there was a lot of movement in it when I checked it last night

Yeah and crank angle is a PITA to replace.

Tell me about it!
We had to do it on Nick's FTO when his belt went and took the crank angle with it...

[Technikhaus]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure that I have a pulley at home from Schummie's old engine. Only 90,000KMs on it, I may just give that a go.
Saves buying a new one, and if it is still noisy after that I'll fork out for a new one...


Am I going to need any stupid speciality tools to remove it?
Pulley puller etc? Or should it just be releasing the bolt in the middle and sliding it off?

[rock_it]

Pretty sure it is just release bolt and pull off...

[Bennoz]

Yep, just undo the centre nut (14mm), then just release the tensioner bolt (also 14mm) & she'll just fall off - given you've released the tensioner enough to get the belt out of the way.

[Technikhaus]

This is the noise

[Sahin]

Nah dude that doesn't sound good
I'd say your pulley is fowling on the bottom of the mount!

[Technikhaus]

Well... I found the spare idler pulley, and it's bearings are pretty much shot, and it was quite rusted.
I decided to pull the original one out anyway and check it out. It was pretty much perfectly smooth.
So I just greased the bearings a little and put it all back together and no noise!

Took it for a little drive and so far nothing, so I guess we shall just see how it goes.

Cheers for the help everyone!

[Technikhaus]

Sounds a bit better, no?

[Technikhaus]

So after a few days the belt shredded.... I have since replaced it and I swear the steering it lighter than before, but that could just be from not having it for a week....
The squeak is occasionally coming back, but then goes away, so I may still have to replace it :/