Threw the A/C belt, ok to drive home?

[Notifier]

This morning driving up to get the windows tinted in the DeLorean. Anyway, about halfway there turned on the A/C because the windows started to fog up a little and just wanted to dry things. Heard an unusual "thump thump thump", turn off the A/C and went away. Ok, issue with the compressor? Need to look into that when I get the thing home. So I get to the tinting place and notice a broken belt hanging from the underneath rear of the car! It's the A/C belt. Well, "there's your problem" moment.

Going to fix this, but is it ok to drive it home without causing any damage with the A/C belt removed? Not going to run the A/C until this is fixed obviously. The alternater/water pump belt is fine and still on there. Need to drive about 30 miles home (apparently already drove it about 15 miles with the broken belt already).

The belt is only six months old, anything I should look for as the cause of the failure?

[sean]

This morning driving up to get the windows tinted in the DeLorean. Anyway, about halfway there turned on the A/C because the windows started to fog up a little and just wanted to dry things. Heard an unusual "thump thump thump", turn off the A/C and went away. Ok, issue with the compressor? Need to look into that when I get the thing home. So I get to the tinting place and notice a broken belt hanging from the underneath rear of the car! It's the A/C belt. Well, "there's your problem" moment.

Going to fix this, but is it ok to drive it home without causing any damage with the A/C belt removed? Not going to run the A/C until this is fixed obviously. The alternater/water pump belt is fine and still on there. Need to drive about 30 miles home (apparently already drove it about 15 miles with the broken belt already).

The belt is only six months old, anything I should look for as the cause of the failure?

You'll be fine to drive home sans AC belt. As to the cause, it could be a few things including tension to tight, to loose or something else..

[Iznodmad]

I'd check the condition of the bearings of the pulleys. Now that the belt is missing, you can spin them by hand and check for noise and resistance to turning. If you don't know the condition of them (records showing item replacement), then it is time to replace them.

[David T]

The car will drive OK without the A/C belt. Some possibilities for the belt jumping off include:
Bad belt/wrong belt
Belt damaged during installation
A pulley not lined up with the others
A damaged pulley
A bearing on one of the idler pulleys is bad
Belt over or under tightened
David Teitelbaum

[Notifier]

Awesome, thanks! I feel a lot better now. My main concern was doing any more damage to the compressor or something else with the belt missing. Wanted to avoid a tow if I could still drive it. I do have a spare belt on hand, figured it would be better installing it in the comfort of my own garage instead in the middle of a parking lot!

I should also add that the belt was put on new by DMCMW back in October when I did a Stage II. I'll have to dig up and check my invoice but I believe the bearings and pulleys were checked and/or replaced at that time also. Unless something happened with the compressor, I believe that is original or at least several years old. The belt completely broke, didn't just fall off unless it broke after falling off.

[jawn101]

I have been putting off replacing my bearings for a while. They aren't making noise yet but I like to be pre-emptive when I know something's known to fail. I could have sworn I saw a how-to on it somewhere once, but it may have been on .com. Haven't had any luck finding it now. Do you just remove the circlip and pop the bearing out, or does the whole bracket have to come off the motor?

[David T]

The venders don't make the belts so it is always possible they got and installed a defective one. Or they overtightened it. Since the belt broke the shop should investigate all possibilities before just throwing another belt at the car. Losing the A/C belt all by itself isn't all that bad (unless it is a warm-hot day!) the real danger is when it comes off it takes the water pump/alternator belt with it! Now if THAT happens, you are not going very far.
David Teitlebaum

[DeLorean03]

It's going to be either a bad belt or your pulley bearings...RARELY is it anything else...

[David T]

You really have to remove the bracket and do it on the bench. Make sure you note EXACTLY how the hardware (washers, spacers, bolts) are placed so you can put it back right. You should also get the "O" ring that goes behind the cover behind one of the pulleys.
David Teitelbaum

[deloumis]

I have been putting off replacing my bearings for a while. They aren't making noise yet but I like to be pre-emptive when I know something's known to fail. I could have sworn I saw a how-to on it somewhere once, but it may have been on .com. Haven't had any luck finding it now. Do you just remove the circlip and pop the bearing out, or does the whole bracket have to come off the motor?

Mine was done with the bracket off. I'm not sure if it has to come off, my dad was the one to do it. It only took him a few minutes so I don't think it was too much trouble.

[jawn101]

You really have to remove the bracket and do it on the bench. Make sure you note EXACTLY how the hardware (washers, spacers, bolts) are placed so you can put it back right. You should also get the "O" ring that goes behind the cover behind one of the pulleys.
David Teitelbaum

David - isn't this another one of those cases where the manual is wrong? I recall something about the exploded diagram of the idler bracket being wrong.

[dmc6960]

Since this only happened after you turned on the AC, check to see the compressor can still turn with the clutch engaged.

[mluder]

I drove for weeks with my AC belt off - You'll be fine unless you need AC of course.

The parts manual and the service manual are terrible when it discusses the idler pulley. The exploded diagram is very confusing. When you remove the pulley take notes and pictures. I've taken it off and put it back twice. The first time I put it together incorrectly and things were askew. Just fixed it last night and everything lines up again.

FYI - the beraings are available at NAPA if you are inclined to shop there. They have a couple different grades. I bought the cheapies...

Cheers.
Steve

[Nicholas R]

One winter I had an idler pulley bearing go out. I probably drove without the AC belt for 4 months. Only need an AC belt if you intend on using the AC.

[David T]

The parts manual is correct but confusing. Best to try to keep things as they were unless you suspect someone messed it up and you have to try to correct the mess. I am referring to 7-2-1 AND 1-1-4. The "O" ring is #3
David Teitelbaum