Belt keeps shredding

BUNNYETOES

MEMBER
2000 FORD TAURUS
160,000 MILES

My husband disconnected the AC in the car and after that, for about a month I was hearing strange soft squealing/humming noises. The other day he went to start it and the main belt snapped. It was shredded. He went, got another belt and that shredded after running 15 seconds. Any suggestions>

3 Replies

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,005 POSTS

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS GOING ON THAT YOU MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND

THE AC CLUTCH AND AC COMPRESSOR WORK TOGETHER. THE CLUTCH MAKES THE COMPRESSOR TURN

THE CLUTCH FREE SPINS TILL IT GETS THE SIGNAL TO COME ON

THE CLUTCH GET THE SIGNAL WHEN YOU SELECT "A/C". IT GETS THE SAME SIGNAL WHEN YOU SELECT ANY HEAT MODE THAT USES "DEFROST". DEFROST USES THE EVAPORATOR TO REMOVE MOISTURE FROM THE AIR BEFORE "DEFROST" BLOWS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD

SO. UNPLUGGING THE CLUTCH UNDER THE HOOD SHOULD KEEP IT FROM EVER COMING ON.

. WORKS GREAT, UNLESS THE BEARING(S) IN THE CLUTCH PULLEY GO BAD. THEN THE PULLEY WILL LOCK UP!

. WAIT, MAYBE IT AIN'T THE A/C CLUTCH LOCKING UP!

. THERE ARE OTHER PULLEYS THAT CAN LOCK UP.

REMOVE THE SERPENTINE BELT AND ATTEMPT TO TURN EACH OF THE PULLEYS BY HAND, THE "APPLIANCES, AS WELL AS THE IDLER AND TENSIONER PULLEYS (THE BIG CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WILL NOT TURN BY HAND, AS IT IS THE "DRIVER" FOR ALL OF THE OTHER PULLEYS)

MAYBE YOU WILL GET LUCKY AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING EZ AND INEXPENSIVE TO REPLACE

IF IT IS THE A/C CLUTCH PULLEY BEARING---YOU MAY BE ABLE TO REPLACE JUST THE BEARING AND STILL "GET BY" WITH IT'S WIRE DISCONNECTED

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANNA BY A "BYPASS PULLEY" AND ELIMINATE THE CLUTCH AND COMPRESSOR. THIS MAY RESULT IN A NIGHTMARE OF SEARCHING FOR A SHORTER BELT TO MAKE IT WORK, AS WELL AS THE COST OF A BYPASS MECHANISM, AND OF COURSE "YOUR TIME" MESSING WITH IT. IT MAYBE EZer TO JUST REPLACE THE CLUTCH OR IT'S BEARING, AND LEAVE THE REST "STOCK", WHICH MAY MAKE THINGS SIMPLER IF YOU SHOULD FIX IT 100% IN THE FUTURE.

IF THIS PIC COME THRU, YOU WILL SEE WHAT A NEGLECTED PULLEY CAN DO

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, May 5th, 2013 AT 11:23 AM

BUNNYETOES

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Well it turns out that when he disconnected the AC, that's when the problem started, Something was misaligned and there was something in the way of the belt's route. He went to Advanced Auto yesterday and purchased a rebuilt AC unit. He replaced that, then installed the new belt. (By the way it was NOT easy to get at, thank God no children were around lol ) Now, the car runs like the day it came off the assembly line. Purrs like a kitten. He did find your answer very helpful as well. Thank you SO much.I now have my 2000 Taurus (built like a workhorse!) Back. Hopefully it will last another 160,000 miles :)

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Monday, May 6th, 2013 AT 9:39 AM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,005 POSTS

GLAD YOU GOT IT FIGGERED OUT!

I RECKON YOUR AIR IS WORKING WELL?

LEMME KNOW WHEN YOURS HITS THE 36 YEAR OLD MARK. AND THE 67 YEAR OLD MARK. LIKE MY DAILY DRIVERS

HECK, SO SIMPLE, IT DOES MATTER IF THE KIDS ARE AROUND. WE MAKE THEM WORK ON 'EM!

"MR. JEEP", "WILLY", AND MY YOUNGIN, AT 4/ 10/ 24 YEARS OLD (SHE'D RATHER HAND-CRANK HIM, THAN USE THE STARTER). SHE WAS PROFICIENT IN WILLY'S FULL OPERATION AT AGE 10.4TH PIC IS GRANDSON AND HER (AT 24 YEARS), VISITING US AND HER OLE BUDDY "WILLY" AT CHRISTMAS TIME. THE NUMBERS ON THE HOOD ARE HER BIRTHDAY!

COME BACK TO SEE US

THE MEDIC

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