A/C Belt Replacement--Belt won't come off
#1
A/C Belt Replacement--Belt won't come off
Hi All,
I attempted to change my drive belts yesterday on my 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 4WD (3.4 L 5VZ-FE), but I was unable to get the A/C belt to budge. I got the power steering belt off no problem, but the A/C belt held the project up. I loosened the nut in the center of the idler pulley and then backed off the tensioner nut, but the pulley did not move upwards to loosen as I have read and seen others do. There was some movement that I could feel, but I'm thinking that was only free play from the pulley on it's mounting bolt from the nut being loose.
Does the idler pulley nut need to be much tighter (say slightly hand tight) for the A/C belt to come loose? Thinking of the mechanics of how this pulley would come loose, wouldn't the pulley have to be somewhat tight in order for the tension bolt assembly to "grab it" and lift it upwards? For the record, I had the pulley bolt really loose, so I'm thinking maybe this is why the pulley didn't move up. Otherwise, I'm not really sure how the pulley moves upward at all. It was stuck in place. Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions here? Would like to change the rest of the belts, but this is not a necessity. I will have to change the rest at some point, however.
Thanks,
Matt.
I attempted to change my drive belts yesterday on my 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 4WD (3.4 L 5VZ-FE), but I was unable to get the A/C belt to budge. I got the power steering belt off no problem, but the A/C belt held the project up. I loosened the nut in the center of the idler pulley and then backed off the tensioner nut, but the pulley did not move upwards to loosen as I have read and seen others do. There was some movement that I could feel, but I'm thinking that was only free play from the pulley on it's mounting bolt from the nut being loose.
Does the idler pulley nut need to be much tighter (say slightly hand tight) for the A/C belt to come loose? Thinking of the mechanics of how this pulley would come loose, wouldn't the pulley have to be somewhat tight in order for the tension bolt assembly to "grab it" and lift it upwards? For the record, I had the pulley bolt really loose, so I'm thinking maybe this is why the pulley didn't move up. Otherwise, I'm not really sure how the pulley moves upward at all. It was stuck in place. Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions here? Would like to change the rest of the belts, but this is not a necessity. I will have to change the rest at some point, however.
Thanks,
Matt.
#2
Registered User
Hi All,
I attempted to change my drive belts yesterday on my 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 4WD (3.4 L 5VZ-FE), but I was unable to get the A/C belt to budge. I got the power steering belt off no problem, but the A/C belt held the project up. I loosened the nut in the center of the idler pulley and then backed off the tensioner nut, but the pulley did not move upwards to loosen as I have read and seen others do. There was some movement that I could feel, but I'm thinking that was only free play from the pulley on it's mounting bolt from the nut being loose.
Does the idler pulley nut need to be much tighter (say slightly hand tight) for the A/C belt to come loose? Thinking of the mechanics of how this pulley would come loose, wouldn't the pulley have to be somewhat tight in order for the tension bolt assembly to "grab it" and lift it upwards? For the record, I had the pulley bolt really loose, so I'm thinking maybe this is why the pulley didn't move up. Otherwise, I'm not really sure how the pulley moves upward at all. It was stuck in place. Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions here? Would like to change the rest of the belts, but this is not a necessity. I will have to change the rest at some point, however.
Thanks,
Matt.
I attempted to change my drive belts yesterday on my 1998 Toyota Tacoma V6 4WD (3.4 L 5VZ-FE), but I was unable to get the A/C belt to budge. I got the power steering belt off no problem, but the A/C belt held the project up. I loosened the nut in the center of the idler pulley and then backed off the tensioner nut, but the pulley did not move upwards to loosen as I have read and seen others do. There was some movement that I could feel, but I'm thinking that was only free play from the pulley on it's mounting bolt from the nut being loose.
Does the idler pulley nut need to be much tighter (say slightly hand tight) for the A/C belt to come loose? Thinking of the mechanics of how this pulley would come loose, wouldn't the pulley have to be somewhat tight in order for the tension bolt assembly to "grab it" and lift it upwards? For the record, I had the pulley bolt really loose, so I'm thinking maybe this is why the pulley didn't move up. Otherwise, I'm not really sure how the pulley moves upward at all. It was stuck in place. Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions here? Would like to change the rest of the belts, but this is not a necessity. I will have to change the rest at some point, however.
Thanks,
Matt.
Last edited by TheDurk; 10-01-2017 at 08:53 AM.
#3
Thanks of responding. By sliding, I meant that as the adjusting bolt is turned, the pulley moves up and down. Yes, the worm gear wheel must have frozen up. Must have happened since the belts were changed or when a service technician was changing the belts.
Do you mean the adjuster bracket or the pulley itself? If it's the pulley, how do I relieve tension on the belt to remove the pulley? Adjust the position of the compressor? The adjuster bracket looks like it is part of the compressor mounting hardware (or at least I think I remember it being that way).
Do you mean the adjuster bracket or the pulley itself? If it's the pulley, how do I relieve tension on the belt to remove the pulley? Adjust the position of the compressor? The adjuster bracket looks like it is part of the compressor mounting hardware (or at least I think I remember it being that way).
#4
Registered User
Thanks of responding. By sliding, I meant that as the adjusting bolt is turned, the pulley moves up and down. Yes, the worm gear wheel must have frozen up. Must have happened since the belts were changed or when a service technician was changing the belts.
Do you mean the adjuster bracket or the pulley itself? If it's the pulley, how do I relieve tension on the belt to remove the pulley? Adjust the position of the compressor? The adjuster bracket looks like it is part of the compressor mounting hardware (or at least I think I remember it being that way).
Do you mean the adjuster bracket or the pulley itself? If it's the pulley, how do I relieve tension on the belt to remove the pulley? Adjust the position of the compressor? The adjuster bracket looks like it is part of the compressor mounting hardware (or at least I think I remember it being that way).
You are correct, the compressor bolts on on top of the idle pulley bracket, so you have to pull those bolts to get the bracket off. I don't know if you can just take those bolts out to create some slack and then remove the belt without cutting it. It's worth a try if you want to keep the belt.
This should help:
Last edited by TheDurk; 10-01-2017 at 09:46 AM.
#5
Thanks for the details. Have no interest in keeping the belt, so don't mind cutting it. I'll need to find part numbers for everything else. Do you know if the photograph of the bracket above is all one assembly? Is it easy to remove the bracket from the compressor. I understand that last question is relative.
#6
Registered User
Thanks for the details. Have no interest in keeping the belt, so don't mind cutting it. I'll need to find part numbers for everything else. Do you know if the photograph of the bracket above is all one assembly? Is it easy to remove the bracket from the compressor. I understand that last question is relative.
On my 4Runner, the bracket, pulley assembly including what I am calling the axle block, and the adjusting bolt are all separate P/Ns. Your Taco may be different.
Last edited by TheDurk; 10-01-2017 at 11:23 AM.
#7
The adjusting bolt definitely moves. I was able to back it out almost entirely. However, the worm is frozen. I would rather not have to replace the bracket although I was able to find a used one for around $85. See The picture attached. Think I could remove the adjusting bolt and pulley and the worm will just slide out of the pulley? So, I'd only be replacing the bolt, worm, and pulley and not the bracket. Don't think that there is enough rust that the worm won't come loose once I cut the belt and release the tension on the pulley and remove the nut holding the pulley in place. I think the issue is with the worm, so if I can replace just the worm I'm golden. There's just some dust and dirt in there. No rust that I could see.
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#9
Registered User
#10
Registered User
The adjusting bolt definitely moves. I was able to back it out almost entirely. However, the worm is frozen. I would rather not have to replace the bracket although I was able to find a used one for around $85. See The picture attached. Think I could remove the adjusting bolt and pulley and the worm will just slide out of the pulley? So, I'd only be replacing the bolt, worm, and pulley and not the bracket. Don't think that there is enough rust that the worm won't come loose once I cut the belt and release the tension on the pulley and remove the nut holding the pulley in place. I think the issue is with the worm, so if I can replace just the worm I'm golden. There's just some dust and dirt in there. No rust that I could see.
Last edited by TheDurk; 10-02-2017 at 12:19 PM.
#11
Registered User
I can't say I've done it on that particular part. There is a collar on the pulley side that holds it in the slot. I don't know what you have to to get that loose. It might be loose, it might be a hard press fit. I would think it would be loose, but might be rusted as well.