The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey guys. I have a question about the aircon belt on my 00 Outback. I am sick to gorram death of having to adjust the damn thing every few weeks. Stupid thing squeaks like a bastard. So i would like to replace it with a small electric motor. The clutch control should be able to be coopted to drive a motor - most likely by engaging a relay and feeding power that way. Possibly through a soft start thing, i dunno.

Anyway, looking at the manual the belt only drives the a/c, and what is called in the book an "idler pully." This is probably a really stupid question, but is that required for the engine to operate? That whole belt is absent in non-aircon vehicles, according to the book so i'm hoping 'no'. haha.


It'd be really nice to not have to worry about that ear-splitting noise.

Im assuming you have tried a new belt?

There are products that you can buy that you spray on the belt to stop the squeaking.

The car will run fine without the aircon belt


As for running it off an electric motor, you would almost need a starter motor to create the torque required to run the compressor at its rated speed, not really a feasible exercise.

An alternative is to try the type of belt used to drive ride on mower blades. If you can find the right size and pitch.They are usually green in colour and designed to resist a lot of heat and vegetation oiling.