Air Conditioning Belt too small on a 5 Litre

[VTSSDUDE]

Hi All,
I have a 5 Litre VS Ute, I bought a new air conditioning belt for it, well I have since then bought another two.
They are all too small for it. I don't understand how? I got one from a auto spares place over the counter, the other two from Supercheap, So surely all using the correct part numbers.
I have the tension pulley adjusted fully loose and for the life of me I can not get the new belts on.
Has anyone come across this problem before?

Thanks,
Jim

[vsv8berlinawag]

Yes, sought of. I changed my belt over a month or so ago myself for the 1st time and they are very, very tight to fit. I thought the same thing i.e. they should be at least 5 to 10 mm longer, but after huge amounts of perseverance and using a screw driver to lever the belt on I did it. I just can't recall if I took the tensioner pulley off completely before I put the belt on or not ????

[green5.7]

if your old ontensioner pulley off completely before I put the belt on or not ???? it helps alo

[VTSSDUDE]

The belts I have are about 10mm off. I might have to try again with a screw driver. I just thought this can't be right. I have tried with the tensioner pulley off.

[westbad]

did you put it around the crank 1st?

[ParkwayDrv]

we did the one on my mates car the other day, they are a ridiculous tight fit

[vsv8berlinawag]

did you put it around the crank 1st?

Good thinking. It's better to start on the crank 1st and then persuade the belt with a screw driver to fit over the compressor pulley. I recall it took me a few attempts as the belt can twist over as it goes onto the compressor pulley.

[Disturbed_vegeta]

i did it to mine the other day, took all about 15mins but i have a hoist to make it easier. But yeah, very tight

[vs ute III]

Hi Guys
I had same issues some time ago and got the answer from this site.
From memory, the power steering unit is the tention adjuster.You need to loosen the top and bottom bolts of the pwr steer pump and it will slide allowing easy fitment of belt.Then just lever the pump back and tighten the bolts

[vsv8berlinawag]

Hi VS Ute III, the 5 Litre A/C belt is a belt on its own. Sounds like you are describing a V6 serpintine belt arrangement ???

[NeilB]

No He's got it right. The Bracket behind the Power Steering pump is the A/C condensor bracket. There are bolts on this bracket if you loosen you can get about 5 to 10 mil as the bolts are cut on a slide. Then get a bar and bar this bracket back, nearly a 2 person job.

[vsv8berlinawag]

Yikes, sounds ugly. I'd keep perservering with the old screw driver !

[VTSSDUDE]

Yeah I have loosened the power steering pump, no go. I still can't get the belt on. Tried different brands of belts and from different stores.

[westbad]

they are a pig to get on, last one i did kept twisting when i was fitting it, got there in the end tho.

[NeilB]

Patience is needed. Put the belt in Hot water for 5 mins before to make it more supple.

[slenders]

Had same problem with VS series statesman V8.
Tried Bosch A/C belt spec 13A0840 just would not fit.
Tried Dayco A/C belt spec 13A0850 was able to fit.

The Dayco is 10cm longer than the Bosch belt, both belts were specs
from the companies catalogs for my model car.

[moff_man]

i just done 2 on the same car. just wind the crank over whilst threading the belt on. the a/c compressor locked up and threw the belt thats why i did 2

edit: genuwine holden belt with correct part no. for that vehicle

[VTSSDUDE]

Thanks guys, I managed to find a belt to fit. Bosch 13A08650 I think was the part number. It was 25mm bigger then the 840 belt.

[vsv8berlinawag]

Congratulations and enjoy some cool air before autumn sets in !