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1992 AC Belt Adjustment 200

I have changed all the belts before, and even stopped the misalignment of the alternator with a couple aluminum bushings.

Squealing check, it wasn't the alternator, the fix is still doing its job. I noticed the PS belt was a little loose, no problem with the adjustment. Still squealing, yup the non functioning AC belt.

With a lapse in memory, I am hoping I can tighten the belt from the top. I can get to what I hope are the necessary nuts and bolts under the hood but is there anything necessary to access from the bottom with the shield removed?

One more...it seems like it should be necessary to relieve tension the PS belt before adjusting the AC belt.

Thanks in advance,
TOm








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    1992 AC Belt Adjustment 200

    Hi there,

    I can understand the reason why you wonder about a bolt on the bottom of the A/C if you have ever worked on the alternator's bushings. I replaced my bushings on the alternator with solid PVC plastic bar stock. I turned them to fit the aluminum holding bracket. That is after I made the holes round and in-line to each other by line boring them in a milling machine.
    The rubber bushings are used to compensate for a lousy casting tolerance. The rubber gives in so many ways it's sad to see it "sloppy or slapped" together on what was a fairly expensive car when new, IMHO. Not Volvos finest engineering hour.

    The A/C is not mounted the same way, so the answer is no, there is nothing you have to do from underneath unless you want to remove the compressor. It's solid down there. Nothing like rubber flanges for retaining shoulders.
    You only have to loosen the front nut on the adjusting bracket and another on the rear end of the compressor ears. It is a little difficult to get to though, if you try to do everything with AMM and hose in the way.
    It can be done with a box end wrench or a socket with an extension all the way from the front.
    The trick to using either method is having the right lengths on the arrangements.
    I have used a 3/8" drive set with a universal swivel right of the socket so it will lay flat enough to get on to the rear nut and get the extensions to couple up through the front bracket openings.

    As far as the power steering belt goes you will alway have to adjust it last. This is because as the compressor moves in a tangent arc or part circle. The power steering unit moves in another opposite arc upward or outward movement from the arc below. This will always make the length vary. The drive sequence dictates it to be the last one.

    The A/C belt should flex only about the thickness of the belt, midway between the pulleys. The squeal should only be heard with the A/C on. You may want to inspect the compressors bearing under the clutch plate for its to free spin by spinning the pulley while you have the belt free.
    Also check the crankshaft harmonic balancer pulley for separation.
    Paint a straight reference line across the face from the insides to the outside so you can keep an eye on it. Sometime or another you can have trouble with that pulley as it ages.

    The winter time is the best time to work on the belts and A/C under your chosen conditions that Mother Natures.

    Phil








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      1992 AC Belt Adjustment 200

      Thanks for taking the time to write and right this. Nothing found in Bently's or a Brickboard search. Plus confirmation of my observation of the PS pump/compressor adjustment procedure. Yesterday was too cold to lie on the ground to look at the AC mounting. Your write-up makes it easy and now it is in the search engine for the next person.

      Just checked the hidden alignment marks on the harmonic balancer with a mirror and flashlight which are two tools not necessary on a 940 check. Good reminder. I will check for a free spinning AC pulley before adjusting the belt but now I am a little concerned. The AC belt needs just a little snugging but...

      I had to loosen a nut and bolt under at least one 940 AC compressor. The 940 compressors mounting varied for some reason and then there is the 940 PS pump.

      As far as the compressor is concerned it is used as an accessory pulley only but I did try once with my last horded can of R12. If it is or when it seizes, I will have to look into the spacer bypass method.

      Tom










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        1992 AC Belt Adjustment 200

        Thanks for the acknowledgment back.

        I did not know that your car was a 940 and posted under the 200 tab.
        I was also not aware that the crankshaft pulley comes with some sort of indexing marks. On the 200 we just put a blob of paint into the hub across the rubber inner layer.

        As far as the compressor mounting being different on the very bottom is news to me but on the 200 it does not have to be totally cinched down. Just drawn up tight to remove play but not so tight to eliminate belt adjustment. The bolts come with interference threaded nuts.

        Since you have the squeal located to a certain belt you now have figure out what causes it and when.
        I assume you have the A/C system properly charged as it is easy to overcharge them into not working properly or end up with excessive head pressure that can also cause a squeal.
        Maybe it's not good to bring up other reasons at this time.

        As far as a PS pulley shim I think I have seen one. I might have it back at my other house since I think I found it in a junkyard.
        It's such a "nondescript item" they don't even charge for it. It's lumped in with a larger parts you are buying.
        It was nothing more than a spacer about the thickness of one pulley groove to the next. It had four holes in it so that longer bolts could pass right through it. I saw acenter recess center and a hub to align the pulley.

        I was alert that day as it was just laying there as a package. One piece here and others over there.
        I get lots of parts that are taking off by someone else and left for useless to them. I saw a back seat that was sorely bent on the fuel pump side. Some people just don't know how to to pop those hooks! Anyway, My sister in-law got an IPod later for that hunt.

        Being part a Buzzard and a Hawk does have its rewards! (:-)

        Phil








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          1992 AC Belt Adjustment 200

          Sorry for the confusion. I was talking 240. I have to remember to check the harmonic balancer more often on the 240.


          I was comparing 940 to the 240, visual check of the harmonic balancer and accessory belt adjustments.
          I had painted the line on the car's harmonic balancers. No fan cover on the 940s, and accessory belt adjustment differences.

          Tom, a 244 owner along with 2-944s and a 945







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