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serpentine belt keeps popping off

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15K views 16 replies 3 participants last post by  fearthebeard  
#1 ·
i have a 98 camry 4 cyl and my serpentine belt keeps popping off :headbang: granted my power steering belt snapped off. is this the reason why the belt keeps popping off? i feel like it needs to have the power steering belt on the pulley to keep the serpentine belt from slipping off to the smaller power steering pulley? :wtf:

anyone have ideas or fixes?? :help:
 
#2 ·
Are the pulleys wobbling? Are they misaligned? The belts should be installed using a tension gauge, such as the simple $20 Krikit-II on Amazon. This gauge doesn't show anything below 100 lbs, but estimate for the lower PS belt tension and it's good enough. It works very well for AC/Alt belts.

See also: http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1395&location_id=5014

Krik-it II (#91132 for v-ribbed belts), don't use the one for the old V-belts.
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2265&location_id=2742

Here is a video for Dayco-labeled Krikit tools:
 
#3 ·
Are the pulleys wobbling? Are they misaligned? The belts should be installed using a tension gauge, such as the simple $20 Krikit-II on Amazon. This gauge doesn't show anything below 100 lbs, but estimate for the lower PS belt tension and it's good enough. It works very well for AC/Alt belts.

See also: http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1395&location_id=5014

Krik-it II (#91132 for v-ribbed belts), don't use the one for the old V-belts.
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2265&location_id=2742

Here is a video for Dayco-labeled Krikit tools:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z11wfc-0-hY

see thats the thing a while back i met my old man for a beer and when i pulled in the parking lot he heard the belts squeling and we popped the hood and he noticed that the pulley was wobbling, being the genius i am i ignored it until now and when i was under the hood putting the belt back in place i checked the pulleys and they felt like they were on securely... when i tried shaking the pulley it didnt wobble or move :dunno:

is the powersteering pulley supposed to spin freely or only spins when engine is running? if it is supposed to spin freely then mine is seized because i couldnt spin it :facepalm:
 
#4 ·
It's supposed to spin freely. Overtightening can cause bearing wear and problems later, so I'd highly recommend a simple belt tension gauge as well as new Gates belts (and hoses if needed).

So double check pulley condition and alignment otherwise the problem is going to come back. Periodically siphon and refill the PS fluid in the reservoir. It'll prolong the service life of the PS pump and rack. I'd use Walmart Supertech Mercon-V or Mobil-1 ATF.
 
#5 ·
It's supposed to spin freely. Overtightening can cause bearing wear and problems later, so I'd highly recommend a simple belt tension gauge as well as new Gates belts (and hoses if needed).

So double check pulley condition and alignment otherwise the problem is going to come back. Periodically siphon and refill the PS fluid in the reservoir. It'll prolong the service life of the PS pump and rack. I'd use Walmart Supertech Mercon-V or Mobil-1 ATF.

damn... so just so im clear the p/s pulley that is supposed to spin freely is the pulley with the dual pulleys on it for the serpentine and p/s belts?? if it does not spin freely then do i need to replace the whole unit or just pulley and shaft?? lastly what are the pulley allignment specs?
 
#6 ·
The double pulley you mentioned is the crankshaft pulley and it won't turn freely. The alternator and AC pulleys should turn freely.

As far as alignment goes, the home-garage method pretty much is using a straight edge to make sure the pulleys are inline the best you can. Clearance is an issue however depending on the width of the straight edge. Hold it in one of the grooves and judge from there, also try holding against the sides of the pulleys but their thicknesses can vary a bit. The Gates tool uses laser.

Essentially the belt should run straight without wobbling or twisting in the pulleys. Ideally you'll see painted letters come by periodically but otherwise the belts should look straight length-wise and stationary side-to-side while running.


Pictures of the PS pump pulley: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/19.jpg
Alt and AC pulleys: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/11.jpg
And the crank pulley: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/28-2.jpg

Above from the thread: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...-1996-1997-2001/428257-part-1-timing-belt-oil-seals-replacement-w-pictures.html
 
#7 ·
The double pulley you mentioned is the crankshaft pulley and it won't turn freely. The alternator and AC pulleys should turn freely.

As far as alignment goes, the home-garage method pretty much is using a straight edge to make sure the pulleys are inline the best you can. Clearance is an issue however depending on the width of the straight edge. Hold it in one of the grooves and judge from there, also try holding against the sides of the pulleys but their thicknesses can vary a bit. The Gates tool uses laser.

Essentially the belt should run straight without wobbling or twisting in the pulleys. Ideally you'll see painted letters come by periodically but otherwise the belts should look straight length-wise and stationary side-to-side while running.


Pictures of the PS pump pulley: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/19.jpg
Alt and AC pulleys: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/11.jpg
And the crank pulley: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/28-2.jpg

Above from the thread: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...-1996-1997-2001/428257-part-1-timing-belt-oil-seals-replacement-w-pictures.html

ahhh ok so then the crankshaft pulley at one point was wobbling and it does appear to be sticking out to the left maybe 1/2" to 1" and is not inline with the a/c or altenator pulleys
 
#8 ·
So the crank pulley is "walking out" from the engine by 1/2"-1"? The most common reason for the crank pulley to pop loose like that is an improperly tightened crank bolt. It's also common on some Toyota trucks when the tech didn't properly torque down the bolt.

See also: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...ion-1992-1996-1997-2001/357040-home-made-tool-tighten-camshaft-sproket-nut.html

Harbor Freight is running a sale on the 1/2"-drive torque wrench, for $9.99! See the coupon on their home page: http://www.harborfreight.com/
 
#11 ·
As BMR mentioned, another reason is if the rubber layer got damaged, either from age or from improper removal. You can see the thin rubber layer with a hairline crack in this picture (from the same timing belt DIY), it may still be good unless it comes apart:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/31.jpg

DO NOT use a jaw puller on the crank pulley (yes, more properly called the harmonic balancer):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/Ken4/Picture355.jpg (from the DIY http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...m/forum/107-camry-solara-lounge/109966-my-timing-belt-job-pics-56k-go-away.html)

Because if you use a jaw puller this is what ends up happening ($$$):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/Ken4/Picture369.jpg
 
#12 ·
As BMR mentioned, another reason is if the rubber layer got damaged, either from age or from improper removal. You can see the thin rubber layer with a hairline crack in this picture (from the same timing belt DIY), it may still be good unless it comes apart:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v475/TheSilent_One/Camry 1996 5SFE Timing Project/31.jpg

DO NOT use a jaw puller on the crank pulley (yes, more properly called the harmonic balancer):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/Ken4/Picture355.jpg (from the DIY http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...m/forum/107-camry-solara-lounge/109966-my-timing-belt-job-pics-56k-go-away.html)

Because if you use a jaw puller this is what ends up happening ($$$):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/Ken4/Picture369.jpg

ok so is the rubber layer in between the two pulleys or in between the smaller pulley and the block?
 
#16 ·
Yeah, that doesn't look right; it does look like the pulley is coming apart. There's a 1/2" space between the power steering pulley and the serpentine belt pulley. To get a better look at it, remove the wheel on that side and then the access panel behind it. That'll let you get a close look at the pulley. Follow the first couple steps in this DIY thread for a timing belt replacement:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...m/forum/107-camry-solara-lounge/109966-my-timing-belt-job-pics-56k-go-away.html

Take another pic of the pulley at a bit of an angle (not straight on), so we can see if the outer sheave is coming off. If that's what's happened, it'll have to be replaced. You might think about doing a complete timing belt job at the same time.
 
#17 ·
Yeah, that doesn't look right; it does look like the pulley is coming apart. There's a 1/2" space between the power steering pulley and the serpentine belt pulley. To get a better look at it, remove the wheel on that side and then the access panel behind it. That'll let you get a close look at the pulley. Follow the first couple steps in this DIY thread for a timing belt replacement:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...m/forum/107-camry-solara-lounge/109966-my-timing-belt-job-pics-56k-go-away.html

Take another pic of the pulley at a bit of an angle (not straight on), so we can see if the outer sheave is coming off. If that's what's happened, it'll have to be replaced. You might think about doing a complete timing belt job at the same time.
alright so you guys were dead on the pulley seal did in fact break and the pulley was completely disconnected so i got new belts and a new pulley and put them on... in my attempt to try fixing it i snapped the tension bolt in the altenator block so i got lazy and just bought a new one instead of trying to extract the bolt i have the car up and running again new pulley and belts and all seems well except for the power steering...when i crank the wheel left or right greater than say 30 degrees the belt squels horribly and the wheel shakes and i can feel the power steering cut in and out any ideas on the problem here??