A/C Belt keeps self de-structing

[bcolins]

My 90 325i (convertible) with 5 speed has just destroyed 2 A/C drive belts back to back.

The first one appeared too narrow and after installing it,...the tech told me that he saw some cracking on the new belt as he was installing...........he guessed it was very old and had been sitting on a shelf for years.

It slipped from the first moment of driving and when tension was adjusted again.....it began slipping and Squealing after about 1 minute of driving.

The second belt was a new Dayco that was a standard width and looked fresh and new.

It It worked great for about 3 minutes with no belt squealing at all and nice cold A/C.....then I noticed the humidity was going up inside the car and that the air coming out of the vents was not quite as cool.....pulled over and the belt had jumped off and was showing signs of shredding along both top edges.

anyone experienced this?

Previous owner mentioned that he had recently had the A/C serviced (belt was squealing when I bought it)................I'm wondering if perhaps the system is overcharged and maybe the compressor is momentarialy locking up on each compression stroke (?) (Rotary compressor....so don't know if they can do that like the old piston compressors would),.....causing the belt to slip/chirp/wear on each and every rotation.

Brian in Austin.

[Yurick]

I would take the belt off and see if the compressor is mechanically seized. If not, then I would check whether the compressor is misaligned.