New AC belt doesn't fit...

[MudMud]

So I purchased the timing belt kit from TIMING BELT KIT WATER PUMP Genuine & OE Manufacture Parts! 3.4 V6 15 PIECES | eBay and it came with a new AC belt. Unfortunately, that belt does not in any way fit my pulleys. As far as I can tell, my compressor and compressor pulley are stock, but that belt is not even close to fitting around the compressor pulley once I've got it on the harmonic balancer. Has anyone else had this problem? Am I just being an idiot somehow? The other belts fit no problem, but this one not so much.

I already tossed the old belt, so I have no idea what size they had on it but I know I was able to install and remove it multiple times no problem. This one, once I have it around the harmonic balancer and halfway onto the compressor, the tensioner can't even be adjusted that high...that's how tight the fit is.

 

[mtbtim]

So I purchased the timing belt kit from TIMING BELT KIT WATER PUMP Genuine & OE Manufacture Parts! 3.4 V6 15 PIECES | eBay and it came with a new AC belt. Unfortunately, that belt does not in any way fit my pulleys. As far as I can tell, my compressor and compressor pulley are stock, but that belt is not even close to fitting around the compressor pulley once I've got it on the harmonic balancer. Has anyone else had this problem? Am I just being an idiot somehow? The other belts fit no problem, but this one not so much.

I already tossed the old belt, so I have no idea what size they had on it but I know I was able to install and remove it multiple times no problem. This one, once I have it around the harmonic balancer and halfway onto the compressor, the tensioner can't even be adjusted that high...that's how tight the fit is.

You just need to adjust the idle pulley next to the AC pulley up some more. You loosen the center bolt on the pulley and then turn the adjuster bolt to bring the idle pulley upward so you have more room to get the new belt on.

Here's a video [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I made of replacing the belts. Start watching at play time 21:20 and you'll see me struggling with getting the belt on until I figure out I can adjust that idle pulley more to make it easy to get the belt on.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zi1XfFUOjKc?list=PLPMpPriBUyJBswzxy00gJpFg55Zk2fZmq" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MudMud]

No, that's not my problem. Take the idler pulley / tensioner completely out of the equation. I can't even get the belt to go around the harmonic balancer and the compressor pulley. I've actually taken the idler pulley completely off in an attempt to get the belt to go around the other two and I can't even get it to go onto just the two.

 

[pluton]

Suggestion, feel free to ignore:
Go buy the correct belt, compare the two, install the new new belt, try to return the incorrectly sized belt. Try to get the vendor to pay the return shipping, since[we are assuming that] it was their mistake.

 

[MudMud]

I mean, that's what I'll have to eventually do, but this isn't the seller's fault. The belt they sent is correct according to all of the charts. I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had this problem and if so, what belt did they use to fix it?

 

[JayRolla]

I mean, that's what I'll have to eventually do, but this isn't the seller's fault. The belt they sent is correct according to all of the charts. I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had this problem and if so, what belt did they use to fix it?

We need pictures. What's the part # on the belt box. I just did my belts. The ac belt was pretty small.

 

[thegipper]

I think the obvious answer is they sent you the wrong belt. Look up what the correct part number should be and compare it to the belt they sent you. It probably wont be the same part number. Return and replace.

 

[MudMud]

This is for a 98 SR5.

The belt I've got says PK870 >EPDM< and everything I'm reading says that's the right belt. I'll try to get under there again tonight to make sure I'm not being an idiot, and if I still can't figure it out, I'll try to get a pic posted. I've had this belt off and on a half dozen times (The old one) with no issues, so I really don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Then again, I was trying to reinstall it after a timing belt, water pump, cam/crank seal, etc... type of weekend, so I might have just been too tired to realize what I was doing wrong..

 

[MudMud]

To report back, that belt definitely doesn't fit my truck for whatever reason. When I have it on the harmonic balancer, there isn't a chance in hell that it'll fit over the compressor pulley. Since I had it and wanted to see if I could make it fit at all, I even tried prying it on and nope, not a chance.

Luckily I did still have my old belt. I thought I had tossed it but I hadn't yet. The old belt was a Gates 5PK890 and it fits beautifully. No idea why.

 

[Doctorman]

To report back, that belt definitely doesn't fit my truck for whatever reason. When I have it on the harmonic balancer, there isn't a chance in hell that it'll fit over the compressor pulley. Since I had it and wanted to see if I could make it fit at all, I even tried prying it on and nope, not a chance.

Luckily I did still have my old belt. I thought I had tossed it but I hadn't yet. The old belt was a Gates 5PK890 and it fits beautifully. No idea why.

Found my AC belt ripped, it was a 4pk870
ordered of amazon MOCA brand
it came out to be your issue exactly, even with the idle pully removed still did not fit. what a joke! I have to open up the steering wheel belt all over and get a new AC belt inserted

the toyota part recommended is 99364-20870-78 2002 Toyota 4Runner Accessory Drive Belt. MITSUBOSHI - 993642087078 - Genuine Toyota Part but I see that is also pointing to 4pk870
so did I get a garbage part? or is my car being weird.

I used MOCA belt for steering wheel with no issue 4pk1070

should I bother with autozone or go directly to toyota dealer for the part?, I need it tomorrow otherwise I would order online

 

[Doctorman]

Found my AC belt ripped, it was a 4pk870
ordered of amazon MOCA brand
it came out to be your issue exactly, even with the idle pully removed still did not fit. what a joke! I have to open up the steering wheel belt all over and get a new AC belt inserted

the toyota part recommended is 99364-20870-78 2002 Toyota 4Runner Accessory Drive Belt. MITSUBOSHI - 993642087078 - Genuine Toyota Part but I see that is also pointing to 4pk870
so did I get a garbage part? or is my car being weird.

I used MOCA belt for steering wheel with no issue 4pk1070

should I bother with autozone or go directly to toyota dealer for the part?, I need it tomorrow otherwise I would order online

Fixed it up today using 4PK890 by Gates
that extra 2cm gave me all the slack needed to put the AC belt on

 

[3bears]

Fixed it up today using 4PK890 by Gates
that extra 2cm gave me all the slack needed to put the AC belt on

glad you got it done....will keep that number ( size ) on file as I need to do those in a few weeks.....then again...in a few weeks I wont need AC for about 9 months and have not used it yet this year.