Hi guys, new to the forum but in need of some help. I have an 83 GSL that is constantly destroying the ac/water pump belt and the alt belt. It's been this way since I got the car. But in the last month I've gone through at least 2 belts of each. I'm not very knowledgeable about rx7's, so I'm hoping maybe someone will have an idea that I can relay to my brother.

I know the alignment of the pulleys have been suggested (have an s4 alt that just got put in last week and the pulleys were cleaned - as much as they could be anyway). Is there something I'm missing? Also, the belts go from tight, to super loose almost straight away. Help please!

Thanks

 

Going to need a pic from both sides of the alternator to be completely sure but it sounds like the alternator is not sitting right in the bracket because of a spacer issue...it's either too far forward, too far backward or actually wobbling all over the place when the engine is running...I've got the FC 80 amp alternator swap in both of my 1stgen RX-7's and have never experienced this problem with either of them.

The only other thing I can think of right off the top of my head is that the AC pulley has seized but you should've noticed that right off the bat from the screeching belt when you started up the car.

Mario III

 

I'll try to get a picture tomorrow. There isn't any major squealing when the car starts, a couple minor squeals sometimes when it's cold, but I'm told the new compound they're using to make the belts is responsible for that. But for sure I'll post a pic soon, hopefully I can get this dealt with soon $12-$20 every couple weeks gets expensive after a while lol.

 

Are you getting a lot of black belt dust around the pulleys?

 

Not sure if it's around the pulleys, but I know there's some on the side of the engine bay and on the hood.

 

Just screaming that something is seized or about to seize.

 

better assessment can made when you post the photos.

 

I need to retake the pictures. A couple of the guys off BC Rotary and my brother swapped the spacers around so they were more evenly spaced, so we're just waiting to see if that helped at all. I'll post a couple new pics, probably later tonight or tomorrow after I've had some sleep, 3 hours of sleep is clearly not enough

 

Seized would mean it doesn't move.

Check the Alternator Bearing, it has a bearing in the front of it. Water can get in and rust the bearing, it will cause the belt to wear off of the alt pulley.

Also check the spacers at the bottom of the saddle mount, make sure its the right one or what. Try checking the angle of the alt with an angle finder..I would imagine it should be 90 degrees.

Check the pulleys for something sticking out or bent in like maybe you accidently dropped a hammer on the pulley and it dented a spot enough to let the belt on but wear it out.

 

Exactly....a siezed AC pulley would allow you to tighten up but then would screech and kill the belt once started....worse case scenario is the AC pulley isn't seized completely but going to....I had this happen for 10 miles, heard the screech, then it went away, kept driving, felt like car was losing power, stayed on the highway but when I got to side roads, I'm in limp mode having to rev the engine to keep it alive, thinking the engine is going but my oil says good, water temps say good...I rolled to a stop and then the engine died as I popped the hood....it's night, I'm hating life and then I look in and I've got a red-edged smouldering belt spewing smoke....great belt, it was.......pulled the knife out of the car, cut it and the car started right up like nothing was wrong...helluvascare that night.

Mario III

 

Yeah man I had the same problem with my Protege. BTW I wasn't being a dick when I hear seized I think solid like not moving at all.

 

hey im having the same problem on my 82' gsl i bought it. n have replaced the belt like 4 times every couple of miles

 

i'm the brother.

after ~100km it seems everything is back to happy land, but i knock on wood, you never know.

the only two belts on the car are:
crank-wp-ap
and
crank-alt-wp

AC was removed by previous owner..

a couple other issues the car has, is an intermittent idle issue.
it only cropped up after i replaced the old (probably original) corroded gas cap.
it will die out after the choke releases... and only happens some times.
sometimes it will die straight off, others it will idle like nothing is wrong in the world.

there is also an issue with the clutch that i believe is probably a failing hydraulic component.
i re-bled the system this evening, all was good at first, but it seems to be returning to its old ways.. so i think come pay-day i'll be replacing everything between the clutch pedal and the transmission, hahaha. with the exception of the hardline.

i wish i was more help in this, but i'm an FC guy. i don't know much about FB's...

 

a couple other issues the car has, is an intermittent idle issue.
it only cropped up after i replaced the old (probably original) corroded gas cap.
it will die out after the choke releases... and only happens some times.
sometimes it will die straight off, others it will idle like nothing is wrong in the world.

does anyone know what would cause this? I don't want to make another thread, so I'll just bump this one.

 

i fixed my problem with my belts getting chewed up. i took the single big spacers and bough individual spacers n aligned the belt which was a little off enough to cause damage

 

clutch issue now resolved.

still mystified by the intermittent idle issue.