300TDi aircon belt problem

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Originally Posted by rick130

a lot of times with aluminium you can just run the heli-coil tap through without drilling it out ;)

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Hmm, that's a good idea. I'll look into it - cheaper than a new timing cover.

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Originally Posted by 87County

BWOA & FWIW, take the opportunity to replace all the tensioner/idler bearings (they're cheap and simple to do), and if the standard fan setup is retained, check the fan hub bearing too, as it could be time for a new front cover...

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I replaced the main belt tensioner a while back (2 years?) after the old one failed. I'll look into replacing the other bearings.

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Originally Posted by zulu Delta 534

I would suggest an a/c check or service wouldnt be a silly idea either as well as those suggestions posted earlier. You may be running low on gas, or running at extra ordinary head pressures periodically and that can put extra strain on belts.

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From a visual inspection I think the dying aircon belt probably destroyed the wiring for the compressor clutch, so I was thinking it'd be easier to get an auto sparky to fix that. While it's in I might get him to check the pressure.

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Originally Posted by 951cxn

I have a 98 Auto 300TDI Disco ... I think it is one of those "Land Rover Moments" that they seem to have from time to time, the only cure is to carry a set of spare belts.

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I've also got a 98 auto Disco and I get the occasional Land Rover moment too. I ordered a spare set of belts today to carry with me.

I'm a bit worried about the fan as well. My wife was driving and after the aircon belt went she drove about 2km home. The belt wrapped around the fan to the point that the fan must've seized. It was difficult to get the shredded belt off and the engine bay was very hot when I got to it a while later. Do you think a seized fan like that can damage the viscous system or the fan bearing? When I ran the engine today without the aircon belt it seemed fine.

Beach driving seems to kill the serpentine belt. It will last a year or two, then 2 months after beach, it shreds. I haven't lost an aircon belt though. I would much prefer to lose an aircon belt than serpentine. Cheaper, and less consequences.

Maybe do the helicoil next time the timing cover is off. Wrapped bits of belt around the fan stem shouldn't cause any long-term problems. It's happened a few times times to me (see above).
/Damien

Haha, I just took it on the beach last weekend. Probably more coincidence than anything.

As a followup, I replaced the belts and have driven it some short distances. My wife went to drive it today and only went around the block before she came back complaining about some noise (implying it was another broken belt). Nothing seems out of the ordinary, the belts are fine. I heard an occasionally clicking noise like a leaf caught somewhere against the belt occasionally rubbing but I couldn't source it. But one thing I noticed is that when I switched the aircon on, the compressor clutch was on then it stopped spinning. Am I right in thinking that 100% of the time the aircon's on the compressor should be spinning? If so, I'm thinking the clicking noise is the frayed wires (damaged by the earlier belt destruction) shorting out and I need to get the compressor rewired.

thermostat and pressure switch/es control the compressor, so it can cycle on and off anytime you have the A/c energised.