maybe you know?

[savannaz34]

(car)91 lumina Z34.
(problem)my belt that runs the power steering pump,ect,is split down the middle,its a new belt.the previous owner had the same problem.
so i was wondering if anybody might have an idea as to why this might be happening
thanx in advance guys

[jeffcoslacker]

Usually when serp belts shear lengthwise there is something stuck to surface of one of the pulleys or the belt itself that forces the belt to spread across the width each time it goes around. Eventually this will cause a small tear in the reinforcing fibers, which aren't really designed to handle so much loading in that direction, and then it shears lengthwise, between rows of reinforcing cords that run the circumference of the belt.

So check all pulley surfaces for damage or imbedded objects, check each groove carefully and feel around all the smooth pulleys...make sure there is nothing contacting the belt anywhere creating a rub, and sometimes a really worn out tensioner arm with a lotta tip-in can misalign the belt and cause overloading damage to the belt like that.

[sad-lumina-owner]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Usually when serp belts shear lengthwise there is something stuck to surface of one of the pulleys or the belt itself that forces the belt to spread across the width each time it goes around. Eventually this will cause a small tear in the reinforcing fibers, which aren't really designed to handle so much loading in that direction, and then it shears lengthwise, between rows of reinforcing cords that run the circumference of the belt.

So check all pulley surfaces for damage or imbedded objects, check each groove carefully and feel around all the smooth pulleys...make sure there is nothing contacting the belt anywhere creating a rub, and sometimes a really worn out tensioner arm with a lotta tip-in can misalign the belt and cause overloading damage to the belt like that.

I went through 2 belts before noting that someone had taken a blowtorch to the pulley wheel on my A/C unit, creating a nick that always tore off one strip from the belt. I had to run it like that (with a narrow belt) until I replaced the whole (non-working) AC unit with a dummy pulley ($40 on Ebay).