~ ~ Belt Jumped Off. My Options> ~ ~
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
~ ~ Belt Jumped Off. My Options> ~ ~
Hi Forum,
So my main belt jumped off and is sitting lose under the hood. Options I'm considering are ...
..Put on the same belt since it still looks good.
..Put on a new belt, and a new AC belt, and be done with belts.
..Change over to the Under drive pulley and both belts.
I've read some opinions where guys will say change over to the UD pulley, and belts. However, I've also read that changing to the UD Pulley is a PITA
and not worth the work or lil HP gain.
So, plz suggest what are my options, and if there are any additional parts that need changing too
I'll have to get it done by someone, cuz I can't do all this work myself... Price is an issue, but can do within $200-$300 or so, if it's worth it.
Thanks!
So my main belt jumped off and is sitting lose under the hood. Options I'm considering are ...
..Put on the same belt since it still looks good.
..Put on a new belt, and a new AC belt, and be done with belts.
..Change over to the Under drive pulley and both belts.
I've read some opinions where guys will say change over to the UD pulley, and belts. However, I've also read that changing to the UD Pulley is a PITA
and not worth the work or lil HP gain.So, plz suggest what are my options, and if there are any additional parts that need changing too
I'll have to get it done by someone, cuz I can't do all this work myself... Price is an issue, but can do within $200-$300 or so, if it's worth it.Thanks!
Last edited by Vette_Fan; Aug 16, 2011 at 04:08 AM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 606
Likes: 18
From: burke va
When mine started throwing the belt it was because of a worn tensioner. Replaced it and it was fine. You may want to put the belt back on and see if you have a "wobbleling" harmonic balancer or see if any other pully looks out of alignment.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 4
From: Columbia SC
Do what egrand333 suggested. Put the belt back on and watch it as the engine idles, you'll probably see something wobbling/out of alignment. Of course, before re-installing the belt, give all the pulleys, etc. the hairy eyeball in case something is very obviously mucked up.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 4
From: Always in my lane.
It could be a worn tensioner. They are easy to install even for someone with limited mechanical knowledge. Its a small cost but i would invest ina tensioner first, before you spend big money.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
I agree with the posters above; put the belt back on and see what's wobbling. If it's your harmonic balancer then it won't be any more effort to install an UD pulley than it would to replace it with a stock one so I would say go for it. If your problem does not necessitate the RR of the harmonic balancer there's no way I would go through all of the effort necessary just to install an UD pulley...
GL
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Okay, so I'm gonna put the old belt back and look for any wobble... I did notice a whinning sound a while back, so I'm guessing the idler pulley or the tensioner would need replacing. And even if not, they're not to expensive, so might as well do it while replacing the belts and be done. I don't need to change the AC belt, but I think I might do it too.
It's a 99 model. After 10 yrs, little break downs are expected, and some preventive care may save me trouble in the long run... So I'm planning on doing both belts, main idler pulley & tensioner. How much in labor cost should I expect for this...
I can't do the Harmonic balancer or the UD Pulley right now (unless really needed) because labor would be too much for these...
Keep your comments coming... Good info here.
P.S: Anybody have part numbers for these (both belts, main idler pulley and tensioner), and the cheapest place to get it? Thanks.
It's a 99 model. After 10 yrs, little break downs are expected, and some preventive care may save me trouble in the long run... So I'm planning on doing both belts, main idler pulley & tensioner. How much in labor cost should I expect for this...
I can't do the Harmonic balancer or the UD Pulley right now (unless really needed) because labor would be too much for these...
Keep your comments coming... Good info here.
P.S: Anybody have part numbers for these (both belts, main idler pulley and tensioner), and the cheapest place to get it? Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
All these posts about wobbling and nobody has mentioned that almost all stock balancers have some wobble, or at least appear to wobble.
Get your hands dirty man! Get in there and find out what the he11 made your belt jump off... Or take it to a shop and bring lube.
Get your hands dirty man! Get in there and find out what the he11 made your belt jump off... Or take it to a shop and bring lube.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
In order to find the cause of this... I think I'm going to have to put on the old belt, run it and look for where is the wobble/unevenness..right? I tried putting it back on, but can you recommend which "part" I should "loosen" in order to get the belt back on?
Something has to be loosened to put the belt on, after aligning the belt, then it has to be piled back and tightened. Back in the days I'd do the alternator, but I'm guessing it's better to loosen the tensioner on this...not sure
Thanks!
Something has to be loosened to put the belt on, after aligning the belt, then it has to be piled back and tightened. Back in the days I'd do the alternator, but I'm guessing it's better to loosen the tensioner on this...not sure
Thanks!
Last edited by Vette_Fan; Aug 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 4
From: Always in my lane.
In order to find the cause of this... I think I'm going to have to put on the old belt, run it and look for where is the wobble/unevenness..right? I tried putting it back on, but can you recommend which "part" I should "loosen" in order to get the belt back on?
Something has to be loosened to put the belt on, after aligning the belt, then it has to be piled back and tightened. Back in the days I'd do the alternator, but I'm guessing it's better to loosen the tensioner on this...not sure
Thanks!
Something has to be loosened to put the belt on, after aligning the belt, then it has to be piled back and tightened. Back in the days I'd do the alternator, but I'm guessing it's better to loosen the tensioner on this...not sure
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Just grab the tensioner, and then the water pump. Move them back and fourth and see if you see play. If not, then put the belt back on and look a the balancer.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 4
From: Columbia SC
I'm a relatively new C5 owner and haven't messed with my belt yet, but I believe there is nothing to "loosen". Others will chime in if I am wrong, but you should have a spring-loaded tensioner that must be "retracted" and held to replace the belt. Look for the part with a square hole in the arm holding a pulley--a socket wrench fits that hole and gives you the leverage to retract against spring tension. Wear THICK gloves on your wrench hand in case it slips out or your hand is going to look like raw hamburger.
Boy, am I going to catch hell if this off-the-cuff advice is wrong!
Boy, am I going to catch hell if this off-the-cuff advice is wrong!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
No offence, but I would suggest picking up a set of service manuals before you mess something up.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 16
From: Sun City- Menifee Calif.
I'm a relatively new C5 owner and haven't messed with my belt yet, but I believe there is nothing to "loosen". Others will chime in if I am wrong, but you should have a spring-loaded tensioner that must be "retracted" and held to replace the belt. Look for the part with a square hole in the arm holding a pulley--a socket wrench fits that hole and gives you the leverage to retract against spring tension. Wear THICK gloves on your wrench hand in case it slips out or your hand is going to look like raw hamburger.
Boy, am I going to catch hell if this off-the-cuff advice is wrong!
Boy, am I going to catch hell if this off-the-cuff advice is wrong!
