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View Full Version : AA People - Help with Belt Adjustment...PLEASE...

zracer196
11-06-2007, 10:32 PM
Hello,

Just bought this car from another member...Very happy with the purchase. I was informed of a "chirp" when the car was cold...The chirp has now gotten worse (over only 250 miles of driving) and now is pretty loud when warm as well. Now has gone from a chirp to more like a constant squeel. Loud when cold and gets quieter when warm. But still loud enough and not right. I feel like I am driving my "beater" back in HS!! LOL Need to fix it!

The SC belt is also just BARELY rubbing on the SC bracket...But it is starting to slightly "scribe" the aluminum. (SEE PICS)

The car is making full boost...A bit over 9 psi...So I pretty sure it is not slipping much.

I was told that there is some tilting adjustment to the SC itself and may be "tilted" in the wrong direction, etc. Anyone know how to adjust the SC? I found a "joint" that has some adjustment available, but am unsure of what it adjusts...It has to be slightly off since the belt is just barely rubbing the bracket. (SEE PICS)

I was also thinking it MAY be the idler pulley right under the SC...I used a stethascope and could "hear" what appeared to be the squeel coming from that idler...But then you could only put the probe on the bracket itself since the idler was spinning...The adjustment has to be off as well as I stated above.

It is also creating some belt "dust" too. (SEE PIC)

FYI...Kit has about 3K on the 8 rib upgrade...5K total. Was installed by AA themselves. Miami is too far to drive for this.

Any help is appreciated.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!! Love the car!!!!!!!!

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/zracer196/P1030592.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/zracer196/P1030591.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/zracer196/P1030593.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/zracer196/P1030594.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t307/zracer196/P1030595.jpg
///JTM3
11-07-2007, 04:05 AM
Look to me that the bracket that pulls the SC from the back might be a little too tight.....That could be the reason why the belt is rubbing... And for the noise.... I would check the Alternator bearing... or one of the idler pulleys to see which on is making the noise.........

You can also take the belt off and manually spin each pulley and check it that way.... Warning, the belt is a ***** and a half to take out and put back on.. ... so you kinda have to know what your doing... Good Luck... JT
///JTM3
11-07-2007, 04:11 AM
Look to me that the bracket that pulls the SC from the back might be a little too tight.....That could be the reason why the belt is rubbing... And for the noise.... I would check the Alternator bearing... or one of the idler pulleys to see which on is making the noise.........

You can also take the belt off and manually spin each pulley and check it that way.... Warning, the belt is a ***** and a half to take out and put back on.. ... so you kinda have to know what your doing... Good Luck... JT
Penn
11-07-2007, 05:20 PM
Push and pull the SC unit to find out if it need to be more tighten or loose. After you know which way you have to move the SC unit adjust the "thing" which is shown in the 4th pic. Turning it downwards will tighten it and turning it upwards will loosen it. I found that it's easier adjust it if you over tighten it and then turn the stopper by hand to loosen it.
Sorry for my sloppy English, but i hope you understand what I'm saying. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.

PS I'm no mechanic, but i own c38 kit on my 330.
Activ3
11-07-2007, 07:17 PM
Push and pull the SC unit to find out if it need to be more tighten or loose. After you know which way you have to move the SC unit adjust the "thing" which is shown in the 4th pic. Turning it downwards will tighten it and turning it upwards will loosen it. I found that it's easier adjust it if you over tighten it and then turn the stopper by hand to loosen it.
Sorry for my sloppy English, but i hope you understand what I'm saying. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.

PS I'm no mechanic, but i own c38 kit on my 330.
Right on.
zracer196
11-07-2007, 07:20 PM
That was it!...Just the "turn buckle" adjustment...EASY...

I am happy now....

Thanks again for the responses!
OCswedishM3
11-08-2007, 05:01 PM
I just got that part in today because that was happening to me, the squeeling noise. Any fanatic in OC/LA that knows how to install that want to help me? And the new belt..heard its a pain in the ass to put on...
///JTM3
11-08-2007, 06:08 PM
That belt is a ***** to put on..... I would help... Wana drive out to Palmdale... :4ngie:
hp99hp
11-08-2007, 07:23 PM
I'm confused can someone elaborate for me b/c the same thing is happening with mine. Are you talking about loosening the bolt and then sliding the s/c up and down the black part?
zracer196
11-08-2007, 08:48 PM
I did NOT loosen the ENDS of the turn buckle...Just the TURN BUCKLE itself...I loosened the lock nut (hidden behind the oil dipstick in my pics) and turned the long aluminum "nut" (has the active name scribed into it - see my pic)...Went one direction first...Noise got LOUDER...Then went the other direction. Bingo! Noise went away.

The adjustment changes the ANGLE of the SC from front to back...It also changed the alignment of the belt...In my case, moved it away from the SC bracket it was rubbing against...
zracer196
11-08-2007, 08:51 PM
Active3,

How did you run the Homestead track? I love that place...Raced motorcycles for 12 years...Raced and won there many times!! One of my favorites! Would love to drive my car there...
hp99hp
11-08-2007, 10:22 PM
so basically the long nut cylinder thing with active inscribed on it is what you turn one way or another? Doing that will make the adjustment we need?
zracer196
11-09-2007, 12:22 AM
HP...For me, YES. I spoke to Craig @ AA. Told me that that turn buckle adjuster moves the SC forward and back as needed a couple of degrees. This is to align the belt...Maybe the bracket / motors are not all the same and this makes some room for adjustment? Just a thought.

Anyway, it worked for me and centered the belt...Craig told me this was pretty common when it came to "noise"....

Good luck!
hp99hp
11-09-2007, 01:40 AM
okay cool thanks! Yeah it was okay at first and now I have the exact same symptoms. I'm going to give it a go and adjust it. Do you by chance remember which way you turn the bolt, which way it moves? Also how do you tighten it and what size wrench did you use?
zracer196
11-09-2007, 06:26 AM
13mm wrenches...Two of them.

There is no "right way"...Yours might need to move forward or back...I tried one way and the sound got worse...Then the other way...Went away!
Penn
11-09-2007, 06:41 AM
Read my pervious post regarding which way to turn. It's size 13.

The noise was getting on my nerves so bad. It felt like I'm driving a Opel which squeals. My mechanic wasn't able to adjust it because when i got to the garage the belt was already warm and didn't make any noise :S
It's actally really easy to do. Should have tried it myself right away when the noise appeared.
zracer196
11-09-2007, 09:38 AM
With ya Penn...Was VERY easy...Mine is about perfect now. It seems as if it may need a BIT more adjusting now...I adjusted it cold...Now it is warm. It has the SLIGHTEST bit of noise when hitting the gas quickly at idle...May not even hear it when the hood is down! I think I am asking for perfection now! LOL
Activ3
11-09-2007, 01:20 PM
Active3,

How did you run the Homestead track? I love that place...Raced motorcycles for 12 years...Raced and won there many times!! One of my favorites! Would love to drive my car there...

Pm sent :thumbup:
hp99hp
11-20-2007, 01:32 AM
okay so i tried it tonight but i think the squealing is still there just not as loud...but the blower pulley is getting really close to the radiator hose thing, i don't have the aa bracket that holds the radiator away from the blower, i guess i need to get that?