Belt keeps coming off pulleys and shreds?

Tiny
MHJ
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Belt keeps coming off pulleys and shreds. I lost three in the past 5,000 miles. I have replaced. Water pump AND pulley, PS Pump AND pulley, Idler AND tension pulleys. After each replacement, the "new" belt squeels loudly and comes halfway off the A/C compressor until it shreds. I pressed the new PS pump pulley as much as 1/4" past flush with the PS pump shaft, and it is still 1/4" off the A/C pulley. I shimmed the PS pump 1/4" with the pully flush with the shaft, still shred the belt. I just ordered a new PS pump bracket because it looked like the old one "might" be bent by 1/4". With everything removed from the front of the engine, I noticed that the A/C compressor pulley is about 1/2" misaligned to the driveshaft pulley too. There are no adjustments possible to the A/C compressor, but it seems as if IT is the only thing out of alignment. What am I missing? I drove the car for about 5000 miles after first buying it without any belt problems. The only reason I replaced the belt was because I needed to replace the water pump. While I had it torn apart I decided to replace the idler and tension pulleys and the belt. Since then have I gone through 3 belts in another 5000 miles. I'm about to install the new PS pump bracket. Would a couple of pictures of the A/C pulley and driveshaft shed any additional light while I still have a clear view? Do you have any specs on the measurement from A/C pulley to back of A/C compressor that I might compare to what is actually installed?
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 AT 4:07 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
This happens when the tensioner pivot wears out here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job and diagrams to help you see what it will be like for your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/serpentine-belt-tensioner-replacement

and

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/ford/taurus/2002

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers
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Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 AT 10:32 PM
Tiny
MHJ
  • MEMBER
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I'm about 90% sure the only misaligned pulley is the A/C pulley. I was not able to get a clear line of sight with the driveshaft pulley until I had the front torn apart. While operating, the only misalignment I could see was between the PS pump and A/C (so I assumed a bent pump bracket). Only after I pulled it apart did I notice the A/C was also misaligned to the driveshaft. I will install the the new PS bracket. If still misaligned, I will compare the model/serial number on the compressor to an OEM compressor. If they match, there is nothing else to try, is there?
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Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
Double check that the compressor pulley isn't loose or wobbling before putting the belt back on.
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Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
MHJ
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I confirmed that my A/C compressor is the only pulley out of alignment. I could not recover any numbers off the compressor itself, but the clutch had the following stamp [F51Z-19V703-AA]. All my research tells me it is wrong, but the Ford dealership said it was correct. When I looked at the replacement part on the Autozone web-site, the picture showed the pulley turned around with the spacer facing the compressor. My clutch is installed with the spacer facing the wheel well(see attached picture). The pulley is off by exactly 3/8", the width of the spacer. Can I just turn the pulley around?
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Friday, December 16th, 2011 AT 3:55 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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No, there is no spacer. That is part of the pulley and it can't be installed any other way. It's just the wrong part.
Everything is saying you have the wrong compressor and/or clutch installed.
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Friday, December 16th, 2011 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
MHJ
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Do I need to evacuate the A/C system to replace the clutch? That's assuming I can make the room to install the pulley removal tool. I could unbolt the compressor from the bracket and move over just enough to get the tool attached as long as I don't have to evacuate the system.
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Saturday, December 17th, 2011 AT 1:42 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
I don't think you want to try that on the car. In theory it can be done but you need a direct line of sight deep into the center of the clutch and hub to remove and install the snap rings that hold it on. It would be much smarter to pay a shop to recover and hold your refrigerant so you can remove the compressor and have him recharge it when done.
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Saturday, December 17th, 2011 AT 1:46 AM

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