8 replies to this topic

[sdancer]

Whenever I turn my ac on the serp belt tensioner on my car stars vibrating violently, shaking back and forth making ticking noises. However, if i turn the ac on without the ac part, ie just the blower, no noise and no vibrating. Ive narrowed it down to three possible things, bad belt, bad tensioner, or bad condenser. Is this going to be risky to leave for a week or so?(obviously I wont be running the ac until I fix this) I bought a 49'' belt to delete the condenser if it turns out that is the problem so I can still drive the car untill I buy a new one.

Anyone else ever have this problem? or ideas on how to see what needs to be replaced?

thanks

[(_8*(l)Homer]

I had a similar problem in my 98 S70, it was the tensioner. I replaced the belt afterwards, the tensioner looseness caused the sides of the belt to fray.

[atefitty]

There's only two bolts holding the tensioner on..Why not remove it and inspect it? You will see the spring probably has no tension left and you can easily move it with your hand..Slap another belt on there while your at it. I'm not sure what connection your making here with the condensor.

[sdancer]

I've just heard of other makes of cars having the condenser ping bad and not spinning freely. And I was nervous to take off the pulley and inspect it becuase when my timig belt tensioner went and I took it off to inspect it it desintrigrated in my hands haha. And I need my car to get to work and I didn't want to break the tensioner alltogether. Thanks I'll either pull it or just buy the one from fcp seeing as its 44 dollars as supposed to the msrp of 168....

*Going Not ping

[scandalo]

I think you are getting condenser and compressor confused.

[sdancer]

I think you are getting condenser and compressor confused.

Probably

[sdancer]

So I ordered a new tensioner assuming that was the problem but today I took off the belt to get a better look at the timing marks on the crank for something else and I pulled the tensioner too. It still seems pretty stiff... I used the 3 quarters and vice grips trick to get it off and it bent the quarters in the process. If the tensioner turns out not the be the problem what else should I look at?

[Bah]

I'm sorry, but i keep re-reading your thread and the terminology is driving me nuts....so I'm gonna make some adjustments kk.

Whenever I turn my AC on, The serpentine belt Tensioner (Not the Idler Pulley) on my car stars vibrating violently, shaking back and forth making ticking noises. However, if i turn the Blower Motor on without the AC on no noise and no vibrating (Which is obvious, because the blower motor has 0 to do with the belt, completely independent). Ive narrowed it down to three possible things, bad belt, bad tensioner, or bad compressor ( The condenser has once again, nothing, to do with the belt system. Compressor is the thing down there on the bottom with the clutch that enables). Is this going to be risky to leave for a week or so? (obviously I wont be running the ac until I fix this) I bought a 49'' belt to delete the Compressor if it turns out that is the problem so I can still drive the car until I buy a new one.

Anyone else ever have this problem? or ideas on how to see what needs to be replaced?

thanks

Sorry, it is just easier to make those changes so people won't open the thread, read it, then not respond.

That being said, IF the tensioner is wiggling around, chances are it is on its way out. First, Check the belt. Is the belt worn, cracked, squeel, have marks in it? Second, there is actually a bushing inside of these Tensioners. What will happen, is they wear out and the belt tracks crazy and will get destroyed...Ask me how i went through 3 belts a few months back lol. And i took the tensioner off, it seemed stiff, but nope it has side play.

Now, heres another variable to throw in; What belt are you using and what routing? Did you buy the 93 length belt? Did you buy the 94+ Belt? The ones at advanced are all sorts of different sizes so be careful. If you bought the new belt, make sure you use the NEW routing. I don't know if S70s run into this problem at autoparts stores, but, i never trust them.

I would first off start with replacing the tensioner, since that is the most obvious. Change/replace the belt at the same time of course. Then, if that STILL doesn't fix it, I would go towards saying your compressor is seizing up. If it is infact siezing, you need to find out when it was last maintenance and should try vacuuming the system and refilling with proper amount of oil and R-134A. You can also replace the idler pulley for good measure, as they do go bad and make annoying sounds when the bearing is shot.

[sdancer]

Thanks for the fixes Bah. Turns out that it is something to do with the ac compressor so Im just going to put that project off becuase it looks like I need to drop the subframe to take that out. Is that correct?