Okay, I'm having a issue with installing an ac belt on my 97 civic. I tried to get a belt tension gauge but none of the local tool stores had one so now I am left to guess where the tension should be.

I tried to check another civic to gauge how much tension I should actually put on the belt and the other civics ac belt is really tight. I already snapped a ac belt by torqing it on too tight and the second belt I returned (as defective) which I think was over tightened as well. So the question is how can I tell exactly how hard to torque the belt with out destroying the belt or a tension gauge?

 

If you keep snapping belts, you may have a pulley out of position causing it to continously break on you. Are you tightening the idler pulley shaft bolt after you install the belt and tension it?

It should be snug, and should give about a 1/2 an inch when tugged lightly.

 

I am tightening the pulley back down after I make the adjustment to the belt. I found the first two belts snapped because my pulley was put in backwards. So, I faced that the right direction and am now trying to cautiously tighten the belt. Any other verified ways of checking to see if the belt is on correctly. I am going to have to say the whining of a belt is the worst sound I have ever heard in my life.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schultzie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am tightening the pulley back down after I make the adjustment to the belt. I found the first two belts snapped because my pulley was put in backwards. So, I faced that the right direction and am now trying to cautiously tighten the belt. Any other verified ways of checking to see if the belt is on correctly. I am going to have to say the whining of a belt is the worst sound I have ever heard in my life.</TD></TR></TABLE>

it should be able to move about 1/2". if you cannot flex the belt it is to tight. also, over tightening the belt can damage your pulleys as well.