Hi all,

Today I had a go at putting a belt on my A/C system, as ever since i've had the car (26th January of this year) it's never had one. Unfortunately I'm scuppered at the first hurdle, I cannot get the 10mm bolt undone, it's that rounded off. So this led me to see what else is occurring in this area. Is it normal for the band of metal that the belt drives (not crank pulley, but on the A/C compressor) to be free to spin with no resistance at all? Turning this has no effect on the end of the compressor that can also been spun by hand, but has a resistance.

Cheers.

 

The clutch is not engaged, it's electrical.

 

Hi Tom,

What RJ is saying is that yes, it is correct for the pulley on the AC compressor to spin freely unless the AC system is running and the electric clutch in the compressor is engaged, which mechanically connects the belt to the compressor. The clutch disengages when the compressor is not needed (even if AC is on) to reduce the load on the engine for better performance and economy as well as increased compressor life.

Cheers,

Don

 

Gosh, how clever. Thanks chaps for your replies. I'll get my mechanic to sort the rounded off idler pulley bolt and get the belt on then if that's how it should be. Hehe, who wants to bet on whether the system works!

 

Are you sure the bolt is rounded off? If it's the bolt I think you are referring to (adjuster) I think it has a 1/4 inch square head not a 10mm hex.