Author Topic: Methinks the Mazda needs a new AC belt and probably the tensioner pulley (Read 26180 times)

Noto · « **Reply #40 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:09:29 pm »

The pulley will take me 15. The belts? That'd be a few hours for me

My issue with doing the belts is that I then have to go out and buy axle stands since I'd have to remove the right front wheel for a prolonged period and potentially work underneath there. I may have to eventually, so buying tools isn't a bad expenditure, but then do I also need something like this?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/serpentine-belt-tool-with-drive-adapter-0250027p.html#srp

rrocket · « **Reply #41 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:13:37 pm »

Quote from: No-san on November 28, 2017, 01:14:28 pm

I posted about doing just the pulley at the top, but then all ya'll suggested that I do the tensioner and belts at the same time. Now back to suggesting the first easy fix? Why waste my time?

Oh wait...silly question

I suggested just the tensioner pulley, as I thought it would be easier than trying to defeat the countermeasures, alarms and blow-torching the locks off your wallet to buy the whole assembly.

rrocket · « **Reply #42 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:16:48 pm »

Quote from: No-san on November 28, 2017, 02:09:29 pm

The pulley will take me 15. The belts? That'd be a few hours for me [emoji14]

My issue with doing the belts is that I then have to go out and buy axle stands since I'd have to remove the right front wheel for a prolonged period and potentially work underneath there. I may have to eventually, so buying tools isn't a bad expenditure, but then do I also need something like this?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/serpentine-belt-tool-with-drive-adapter-0250027p.html#srp

I can't say for sure...but MOST (or many) tensioners have a square hole in them to fit your standard ratchet/breaker bar into them.

Otherwise a cheap Princess Auto breaker bar (which you can use for other things like loosening lugs) and appropriate socket would work fine if the space is there...which looks like it is from the tensioner video I posted earlier.

And you really need to pop the wheel of and go underneath to change the belt?

Fobroader · « **Reply #43 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:22:04 pm »

Whoa whoa whoa....why you popping wheels off to do belts?? I just think the tensioner assy. will be easier than doing just the pulley for you.

Noto · « **Reply #44 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:22:54 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on November 28, 2017, 02:16:48 pm

And you really need to pop the wheel of and go underneath to change the belt?

According to these videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsspgV4ubkg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SWVlbyfCmg

rrocket · « **Reply #45 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:23:14 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:22:04 pm

Whoa whoa whoa....why you popping wheels off to do belts?? I just think the tensioner assy. will be easier than doing just the pulley for you.

It's not easier. I looked. Pulley on tensioner is one bolt. 5 minutes. Easy access.

Unless I was looking at wrong engine?

Noto · « **Reply #46 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:23:28 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:22:04 pm

Whoa whoa whoa....why you popping wheels off to do belts?? I just think the tensioner assy. will be easier than doing just the pulley for you.

Just the pulley is super simple. How is replacing the entire tensioner any easier?!

rrocket · « **Reply #47 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:25:58 pm »

Quote from: No-san on November 28, 2017, 02:23:28 pm

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:22:04 pm
Whoa whoa whoa....why you popping wheels off to do belts?? I just think the tensioner assy. will be easier than doing just the pulley for you.

Just the pulley is super simple. How is replacing the entire tensioner any easier?!

It's not that I can see. At least from video.

Noto · « **Reply #48 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:29:51 pm »

The pulley would be super simple. The question is whether I somehow manage to knock the belt off more than just the pulley I'm replacing, in which case it'll become a much larger job

I want to replace the belt with a gatorback...the part's cheap, but I'm not confident enough in my ability to get 'er done right. Also, if the pulley is the only issue, then the gatorback's sort of a moot point.

Fobroader · « **Reply #49 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:31:59 pm »

Can you follow Ikea instructions?? Seriously, following a belt diagram is easier than that.

rrocket · « **Reply #50 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:33:44 pm »

Quote from: No-san on November 28, 2017, 02:29:51 pm

The pulley would be super simple. The question is whether I somehow manage to knock the belt off more than just the pulley I'm replacing, in which case it'll become a much larger job [emoji14]

I want to replace the belt with a gatorback...the part's cheap, but I'm not confident enough in my ability to get 'er done right. Also, if the pulley is the only issue, then the gatorback's sort of a moot point.

Great belt! My fav!

I THINK you can tackle this. Am giving you benefit of the doubt. Are any of the other pulleys hollow? Can you put a zip tie through the pulley to keep the belt on if you don't trust yourself not dropping the belt off all the pulleys?

rrocket · « **Reply #51 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:34:28 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:31:59 pm

Can you follow Ikea instructions?? Seriously, following a belt diagram is easier than that.

I think he's just trying to get away from possibly having to pull the tire and get underneath.

Fobroader · « **Reply #52 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:41:21 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on November 28, 2017, 02:34:28 pm

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:31:59 pm
Can you follow Ikea instructions?? Seriously, following a belt diagram is easier than that.
I think he's just trying to get away from possibly having to pull the tire and get underneath.

Ok, removing the tire does make it really easy. I'm used to north-south engines.

rrocket · « **Reply #53 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:42:29 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:41:21 pm

Quote from: rrocket on November 28, 2017, 02:34:28 pm
Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:31:59 pm
Can you follow Ikea instructions?? Seriously, following a belt diagram is easier than that.
I think he's just trying to get away from possibly having to pull the tire and get underneath.

Ok, removing the tire does make it really easy. I'm used to north-south engines.

Yea! That's my issue too!

This is like bizarro land, eh?

Fobroader · « **Reply #54 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:45:25 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on November 28, 2017, 02:42:29 pm

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:41:21 pm
Quote from: rrocket on November 28, 2017, 02:34:28 pm
Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 02:31:59 pm
Can you follow Ikea instructions?? Seriously, following a belt diagram is easier than that.
I think he's just trying to get away from possibly having to pull the tire and get underneath.

Ok, removing the tire does make it really easy. I'm used to north-south engines.
Yea! That's my issue too!

This is like bizarro land, eh?

Changed the belts on a buddies kid Protege.....went in from the top, a lot of it was how you held your tongue but its definitely doable with the car on the ground.

Noto · « **Reply #55 on:** November 28, 2017, 03:00:10 pm »

I'll try to remove the pulley tonight and assess whether there's any play in the bearing. If so, I know that's the issue and I'll order the part. If the pulley is tight, it's likely another bearing or the belt itself. I don't really want to start ordering parts and replacing without knowing what the actual problem is.

rrocket · « **Reply #56 on:** November 28, 2017, 03:03:56 pm »

Quote from: No-san on November 28, 2017, 03:00:10 pm

I'll try to remove the pulley tonight and assess whether there's any play in the bearing. If so, I know that's the issue and I'll order the part. If the pulley is tight, it's likely another bearing or the belt itself. I don't really want to start ordering parts and replacing without knowing what the actual problem is.

You probably won't need to remove pulley to ascertain play. Just gently slide the belt off and see if pulley is sloppy

Fobroader · « **Reply #57 on:** November 28, 2017, 03:05:36 pm »

Really you could hold the tension off the pulley with one hand and with the other spin the pulley and try to see if its got any wobble to it.

rrocket · « **Reply #58 on:** November 28, 2017, 03:05:54 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 03:05:36 pm

Really you could hold the tension off the pulley with one hand and with the other spin the pulley and try to see if its got any wobble to it.

Yep!

Noto · « **Reply #59 on:** November 28, 2017, 03:06:54 pm »

Quote from: Fobroader on November 28, 2017, 03:05:36 pm

Really you could hold the tension off the pulley with one hand and with the other spin the pulley and try to see if its got any wobble to it.

I tried doing that last week, actually, and couldn't get the pulley to move with just my hand. I then put the thought on the back burner and figured that the noise will go away if I ignore it