I have a 86 951 with a a/c conversion. The other day it started squeaking really bad, so I adjusted the tension on the belt and it stopped. Well my buddy just got a cayman s, so i had to go and take a run around town with him, and the belt started squeaking unbelievable bad!!! i couldn't stand it, then suddenly it got quiet and the infamous ! light came on. Once i got her home, i found that the belt was completely off. is this very abnormal? Whats the next step?

 

i'm no a/c expert by any means, but it sounds like the compressor seized due to lack of oil in it. it might be toast, but i have no idea.

 

Yup sounds like compressor seizure.
Just get a rebuilt one off ebay.

Sometimes they take the control unit with them(load up and cook it)

 

I have a compressor for sale. Fits my 1986 NA...dunno if it'll fit yours

 

the compressor was just put on by Merrick and Fair in carlisle Pa not more than 4 years ago, and it was bought brand new from griffith up in NJ. It may have seized, but i wouldn't think something that new would have....
thanks guys
zach

 

Check if the belt is still on. Most likely the belt was overtensioned and jumped ship.
Turn the center part of the pulley by hand. If it still spins then your compressor has not siezed. Sorry but that is not the most likely situation. The most likely one is that your 4+ year old serpentine belt was due for replacement, and re-tensioning it was the last straw. (Unless you over-tensioned it)

 

bringing up an old thread...
i have an '87 na. how tight should the a/c belt be? i have this ongoing squeaking also. i tighten, i loosen, it goes away for a while, and then comes back. not only is it annoying, but embarassing.

so how do i know if its tight enough? and just to make sure, how do i tighten it? is it the little bar thing?

 

To tighten the a/c belt you first need to loosen the compressor pivot bolts. Not doing this can cause the ears of the compressor to break off. Then you adjust the tension using the adjusting bar. Then tension is acually supposed to be set with the special Porsche tool. Set it to 8 on the dial then two turns of adjusting bar. After tighting the belt, tighten the compressor pivot bolts and your done.

 

Ditto on checking the security of the A/C compressor.

The rear bolt in mine was missing and caused the squeal, tighten, then disappearing belt trick.

Had to remove compressor and helicoil the ear mount bolt threads.

 

yeah, i dont have the tensioning tool.
i was hoping someone could tell me about how much the belt should be able to move up or down.