2003 VW Passat TDI - Aircon Belt Tension, Access?

nogoodnamesleft

I have a slight query that some of ye might be able to answer. My car has Air Conditioning so obviously has got the associated aircon compressor located in the engine bay. When the air con is turned off there is no noise. The air con belt which is ran off the crank is always rotating. With the air con turned on there is a slight squeeking noise as I recon the belt is slipping with the additional load when the clutch engages the aircon compressor.

What is the easiest way in order to tension the aircon belt? Access is very limited to say the least going in from above seems to be a non runner as I need to have two wrenches, one to apply the neccessary tension 25NM, and the second to lock the tensioner in place once the desired tension is achieved.

The way VW suggest is to put the front of the car into "service position" :eek: i.e. remove front bumber, remove bumper bar, and move the whole rad which still connected as far out as possible seems to be an awful lot of effort in order to tension one belt!

BTW all belts were changed 18months ago when its timing belt 60k service was due.

hiluxman

access is from underneath. take off the bottom cover and you will have enough room to do it. i think a 6mm allen key is needed to loosen the tensioner

Slidey

Is there not an automatic tensioner in these? You need to check if there is one that it has not become worn and gone slightly to one side

A common problem with VW's is the one way pulley on the alternator that can sieze, when it does it can throw up some funny issues.

nogoodnamesleft

Ya was thinking I had to go from underneath alright, still extremely tight though going to have some skinned nuckles I recon.

Nope its a manual tensioner for the aircon belt, fairly sure that the serpertine belt for the water pump, alternator etc and the timing belt is hydraulic thou.

hiluxman

Slidey wrote: »

Is there not an automatic tensioner in these? You need to check if there is one that it has not become worn and gone slightly to one side

A common problem with VW's is the one way pulley on the alternator that can sieze, when it does it can throw up some funny issues.

The air con pump is driven off a different belt with a manual tensioner. your on the the ball with the alternator pully, gives loads of hastle, the way to tell if its gone is to get someone to turn the steering onto full lock a few times, if the belt and tensioner jumps, the pully is seized

nogoodnamesleft

Checked and retensioned the tensioner earlier today. Problem solved