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      01-31-2010, 04:42 PM   #1
wolftrouble
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AA Pulley, a.k.a. Belty McShredsalot

So it being winter, even here in northern California we don't need the A/C very often, so I haven't been running it much lately. Even still, I'd been noticing a kind of rhythmic, very soft thumping sound from the engine (could even feel it in the steering wheel) and every once in awhile the steering got a bit heavy, but I thought it was just because of the active steering thinking I was driving too fast to turn that hard.

I have an AA pulley and feared the worst. Today when the AC was running the thumping was a lot louder, so I did some tests, turning the wheel hard while stationary... And smelled burning rubber. Effing great.

Sure enough, I pop the hood and check with a flashlight and see that the belt that AA provided for my pulley is coming apart. There's cracks all over it from where I can see and small bits of it chewed away.

The first belt didn't last six months but it was supposedly flawed; they preemptively sent me a replacement that I only put on after the first belt ate itself on a drive down to LA. That was less than a year ago. This one is still functioning, barely, but it's definitely slipping and judging by the thumping sound I'm guessing some parts of it have shredded, I just can't see (the accessories belt is pretty hidden when the radiator fan is in place; at any given time I can see maybe 3 inches of it).

At this point, I'm thinking I'm just going to put the stock pulley back on. At least then I can get belts without having to contact AA.

Speaking of, in the interest of full disclosure I haven't contacted them yet - doing that now. I don't mean to sound like an internet crusader but I do think they need to be called out on this; whether it's a flaw in the pulley design or belt I've already sunk some hours into installing it, then replacing the belt, and now having to go through replacing the belt again. To say I'm not pleased is an understatement.
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      01-31-2010, 04:44 PM   #2
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Wow thanks for informing! Keep us updated
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      01-31-2010, 04:56 PM   #3
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I wonder if the other pulley brands are the same or if they're better.
ie: Evosport, Rogue Engineering, Dinan, etc.
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      01-31-2010, 05:03 PM   #4
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anyone running the gintani kit??
thks for the post./
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      01-31-2010, 05:05 PM   #5
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Uh, oh.

Maybe I should change back to the stock pulley, as well.

I'm nervous now...
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      01-31-2010, 05:07 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nawaaz View Post
Uh, oh.

Maybe I should change back to the stock pulley, as well.

I'm nervous now...
or go with gintani i get mine this week ill write a review and what not
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      01-31-2010, 05:11 PM   #7
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Got the rogue pulley, no problems so far, drove the car in 100degree weather for a couple months and 33-40 degree weather for about 3 months.
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      01-31-2010, 05:12 PM   #8
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Thanks for the unfiltered review. I am taking over an AA pully from a member here and getting a little nervous now. Is it typical of the AA pully?

Last edited by major_kusanagi; 01-31-2010 at 05:19 PM..
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      01-31-2010, 05:26 PM   #9
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Hmmm, that is not good. I am sure that AA will be all over this since their customer service is top notch. But since many members here either have teh AA Pulleys (or another brand), and or are considering pulleys, hearing news like this makes you somewhat hesitant to get them.
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      01-31-2010, 05:30 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SpencerM3 View Post
Hmmm, that is not good. I am sure that AA will be all over this since their customer service is top notch. But since many members here either have teh AA Pulleys (or another brand), and or are considering pulleys, hearing news like this makes you somewhat hesitant to get them.
+1 ordered Rogue
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      01-31-2010, 05:31 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by major_kusanagi View Post
Thanks for the unfiltered review. I am taking over an AA pully from a member here and getting a little nervous now. Is it typical of the AA pully?
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but a problem has happened before also. -->http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ight=aa+pulley

Yet I thought AA had already solved this matter, therefore I went on with my purchase from them.

I hope Omar@AA will eventually jump in to clear things up.

I would just contact them directly to get some further direction/info regarding this issue, which may/may not be coming back...
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      01-31-2010, 05:35 PM   #12
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Thx. You are doing your new job overly well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nawaaz View Post
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but a problem has happened before also. -->http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ight=aa+pulley

Yet I thought AA had already solved this matter, therefore I went on with my purchase from them.

I hope Omar@AA will eventually jump in to clear things up.

I would just contact them directly to get some further direction/information regarding this issue, which may/may not be coming back...
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      01-31-2010, 05:36 PM   #13
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*Knock on wood*

I'm still on my original belt. The replacement belt is still sitting in my trunk.
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      01-31-2010, 05:37 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by major_kusanagi View Post
Thx. You are doing your new job overly well.
Thank you, major.
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      01-31-2010, 05:37 PM   #15
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I have had my AA pulley over year and half with approximately 8000 miles on it without any problems. Granted since that one member posted his problem, I check the belt every so often to make sure it looks intact. I also bought a spare just in case.
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      01-31-2010, 05:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolftrouble View Post
So it being winter, even here in northern California we don't need the A/C very often, so I haven't been running it much lately. Even still, I'd been noticing a kind of rhythmic, very soft thumping sound from the engine (could even feel it in the steering wheel) and every once in awhile the steering got a bit heavy, but I thought it was just because of the active steering thinking I was driving too fast to turn that hard.

I have an AA pulley and feared the worst. Today when the AC was running the thumping was a lot louder, so I did some tests, turning the wheel hard while stationary... And smelled burning rubber. Effing great.

Sure enough, I pop the hood and check with a flashlight and see that the belt that AA provided for my pulley is coming apart. There's cracks all over it from where I can see and small bits of it chewed away.

The first belt didn't last six months but it was supposedly flawed; they preemptively sent me a replacement that I only put on after the first belt ate itself on a drive down to LA. That was less than a year ago. This one is still functioning, barely, but it's definitely slipping and judging by the thumping sound I'm guessing some parts of it have shredded, I just can't see (the accessories belt is pretty hidden when the radiator fan is in place; at any given time I can see maybe 3 inches of it).

At this point, I'm thinking I'm just going to put the stock pulley back on. At least then I can get belts without having to contact AA.

Speaking of, in the interest of full disclosure I haven't contacted them yet - doing that now. I don't mean to sound like an internet crusader but I do think they need to be called out on this; whether it's a flaw in the pulley design or belt I've already sunk some hours into installing it, then replacing the belt, and now having to go through replacing the belt again. To say I'm not pleased is an understatement.
Wow, as the others have said...that's not good.

You may want to put the stock pulley back on until you figure out your next move.

Best of luck getting this resolved.
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      01-31-2010, 06:01 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nawaaz View Post
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but a problem has happened before also. -->http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ight=aa+pulley

That thread is also the OP in this thread.

Hope you get your problem resolved, very strange its happened to you twice. I have not had any issues with mine, I just went to take a look - from what I can tell it looks okay.
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      01-31-2010, 06:10 PM   #18
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Anyone else experiencing this with their pulleys from other manufacturers?
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      01-31-2010, 06:11 PM   #19
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Shoot I would not be happy at all if this happened to me twice.
I am reconsidering this pulley thing altogether. I am all for horsepower that isn't that expensive, but if this causes any of the systems to fail it will be very expensive, considering this is something that could potentially affect warranty. (Unlike Axle-back, scoops, air filter)

I still hold AA in very high-esteem for their quality, as I believe they are one of the best. That being said, is this a part anybody has considered going the Dinan route for? Since you can preserve warranty.
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      01-31-2010, 06:13 PM   #20
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Rogue Engineering on mine, you run two pulley's with the DCT setup so a custom made serpentine belt is not needed, no issues here . Best of luck to the OP in getting this resolved.
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      01-31-2010, 06:14 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MMMorish View Post
Anyone else experiencing this with their pulleys from other manufacturers?
Zero issue with the Rogue pulleys.
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      01-31-2010, 06:17 PM   #22
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Since this has happened to you twice, wonder if the issue is with your pulley and not the belts?
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