belts from alternator to A/C

[leila]

Hi all,
I recently had my 87 GW tuned up (it had been sitting in my backyard until I could get the carb rebuilt.) Anyhoos, I had all of the belts changed (my A/C to Alt belt had busted - I thought due to age.) I drove Big Red around for a few days enjoying the power and the ice cold A/C. However, there was some squeeling that would start when I started the motor and sometimes when I was driving - quite annoying. Last week my husband had Big Red and complained that the A/C wouldn't work. I noticed the amps where low (brand new battery) so I checked under the hood - no belt! What gives? I have a stock 360, Sanden A/C compressor and a NAPA two pulley alt. When I had the belt replaced a couple of days ago, the mechanic said the compressor was an "aftermarket" because he couldn't get all of the belts to line up(clearly he didn't know that late 80's GWs came with Sandens or Yorks.) Anyway, how many belts should I have total? Should I have one belt that runs around the Alt, A/C and motor or TWO that do that? Or should I have the aforementioned belt and then another one that runs between the A/C and Alt only, as well? Any help would be great - the squeeling is driving me nuts and a road trip to the Outer Banks this weekend may be put off if I can't get the belt to stop breaking.

Sorry for rambling on.
Thanks,

Leila

[Ernzo]

I have a York, two pulley AC. There are two belts running in tandem in the AC/ALT/MAIN matrix. IF you have two pulleys on your alt and ac, then I would suggest that you should have two.

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[ibnfe]

There should be two belts that run around your AC, waterpump, crank pulley and alternator. Then there is the belt for the PS pump.

[leila]

Thanks for the info. I will install the tandem belt this evening. Hopefully this will stop the squeeling and failure of the solo belt.

Leila

[Lindel]

One belt isn't quite enough to turn the a/c, and alt together. It'll squeal, and all the symptoms you describe.

I didn't think they started putting the Sanden compressors on until 88, shows what I know.

[leila]

Lindel,
Oops, my old GW (the Rhino) was an 87. Big Red is, indeed, an 88. Thanks for the info. I will put the new belt (I am assumimg it will beidentical to the other belt, correct?)tonight and give a spin.

Leila

[Lindel]

Actually, knowing Jeep, it wouldn't surprise me to find an 87 with 88 parts on it. Jeep is famous for using up what they had on hand, and switching parts in mid stream. The 79 model is a real hodge podge, because they made a lot of minor changes, and incorporated them as they ran out of old parts!!

The two alt/ a/c belts should be the same, and might be the same as the earlier FSJ's. I'm not sure, since I've never owned one with the Sanden compressor. I've only had the York on any of the FSJ's I've owned.

[Stangerize]

leila,
Make sure you match up all the numbers on the tandem belts. You could get 2 with the same part numbers and they could still be off just enough to make one of the belts too loose. Then you're back to square 1 again. Some parts guys don't even know this. I had a seasoned parts guy at Pep-Boys try to tell me the 2 he was showing me would work because they were the last 2 he had. I knew better but had to see for myself. I installed them and sure enough, one was tight and the other was loose. Match up the sizing numbers, that's what they're there for. They will be on the belt itself.

[leila]

Thanks for all of the great tips. I decided to do a once over under the hood before I headed off to the parts store last night. The comment my mechanic had regarding not being able to align all of the belts had me intrigued. Sure enough, the air pump pully is misaligned. It's belt is running to the power steering pump and the main pulley. I think a previous mechanic hooked it up this way because he could not align it with just the power steering pump pulley (am I making any sense?)
The question I have is this - do I have to have the air pump? Should I buy an aftermarket one that will align properly?

Leila

[Stangerize]

If you care about exhaust emissions and/or have to have the emissions tested then you should run it. It won't hurt anything to leave it off except for the catalytic converters.
How is it misaligned? Is it too far forward, back or just crooked? If it is too far back, is it possible to add shims to where it mounts to the bracket?
Mine is old enough that it didn't come with any emissions stuff on it so I'm not sure what to tell you.