This is on a 98 import sti

Had a squeak from my belts after getting my car back after being fixed from insurance (dont go there), so popped off the covers and both belts were half off .. could this have been due to the crash? was about 5-10 mph hit at the front.

Anyway i refitted the ac belt and the p/s belt and then started the engine. being an idiot as i am i hadnt tightened the ac belt up enough so smoke + smell + yeh belt had slipped off and melted a bit into the case behind the pulley. managed to pull it off and out so now i have no ac belt (as its melted/warped to ****!.

two questions really... 1 - do i actually NEED the ac belt? like desperately?
2. how could i go about checking that the belt is tight enough before turning my engine over... i know its half a turn when u twist it, so maybe ill just do a bit tighter for benefit of doubt?

fast reply appreciated as i need to do this before i have to get to college at 1!

Ash

 

Not sure that you need the ac belt, but for the sake of £8 and 15 minutes I'd do it anyway. When I done mine I left about 1/2 inch of up and down movement In the belt once it was tightened. There is a good fitting guide floating about somewhere.

 

so i refitted a brand new belt to the ac tighterened it correctly there was if anything probably less than 1/2 inch movement up or down and i struggled to twist it half a turn. refitted the p/s belt as well. and boom the ac one slipped off again on engine turnover. had to cut the belt out as it had jammed behind the main pulley wheel. any idea what the fault is or could be? the p/s one is running fine so i know its not me being retarded fitting it... also am i fine to drive around with no ac belt?

 

also. if my belt keep slipping off what is the problem? a broken pulley? if so which one? the small tensioner wheel or the ac wheel or would i have to remove to check?

 

Did the crash push the radiator back into the engine?.

 

i dont think so.. but it may be the case. the outer ring of the crank pulley is now digging into the casing where the timing readings are.... reckong it could just be a new pulley job as the rubber rings have slipped/been knocked back?

 

Sounds like the radiator or something has pushed into the front of the engine and maybe bent a few things,so why did`nt the garage spot this and rectify it?.

 

Id contact the garage and then the insurance company, it sounds like you have more damage then they thought.

 

have done and car's being picked up tomorrow. thanks for your input guys appreciated