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VR30DDTT Belt TSB

47K views 64 replies 26 participants last post by  Old School Z  
#1 · (Edited)
For easy reference:

EM16-006a ITB17-004a March 28, 2018 2016-2017 Q50 AND 2017 Q60;
ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT NOISY OR HAS COME OFF APPLIED VEHICLES:
2016-2017 Q50 (V37)
2017 Q60 (V37)

APPLIED VIN AND DATE:
2016 Q50 (V37) All
2017 Q50 (V37)

RWD Built before:
JN1EV7AP(*)HM731871 / September 7, 2016
JN1FV7AP(*)HM 850227 / September 7, 2016
AWD Built before:
JN1EV7AR(*)HM832718 / September 7, 2016
JN1FV7AR(*)HM870451 / September 7, 2016

2017 Q60 (V37)

RWD Built before:
JN1EV7EK(*)HM 360095 / May 27, 2016
JN1FV7EK(*)HM 610102 / May 27, 2016
AWD Built before:
JN1EV7EL(*)HM550025 / May 27, 2016
JN1FV7EL(*)HM700062 / May 27, 2016

APPLIED ENGINE:
VR30DDTT (V6 Twin Turbo Engine) NOTE: Does not apply to Hybrid models

IF YOU CONFIRM
The accessory drive belt is noisy.

or

The accessory drive belt has come off of the idler pulley.

ACTION: If the accessory drive belt is currently only noisy, check it’s alignment with the procedure starting on page 3. xIf the accessory drive belt has come off of the idler pulley, first repair the accessory drive belt and any collateral damage caused by the belt, and then Proceed to Re-align A/C Compressor on page 6.

IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (above) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.

*Infiniti Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO NOT assume that it does. See your Infiniti retailer to determine if this applies to your vehicle. This bulletin has been amended to add 2017 Q50 to the Title, Applied Vehicles, and Applied VIN and Date. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous version of this bulletin.*


ITB17-004a SERVICE PROCEDURE Check Accessory Drive Belt Alignment

1. Access the idler pulley by hand. NOTE: The idler pulley can be reached from the driver’s side of the engine compartment between the radiator and the front of the engine as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

2. Measure the gap from the front edge of the belt to the front edge of the idler pulley shown in Figure 3 as follows: a. Cut out a 1 inch square piece of paper. NOTE: sticky note can be used. b. Align the paper to the front edge of belt (Figure 3 and Figure 4). c. While holding the paper up against the edge ofthe belt, press the paper into the edge of the idler pulley to mark the paper. d. Remove the paper and measure the distance from the belt to the mark that was just imprinted on the paper. Front edge of idler pulley Front edge of accessory belt 1 inch square piece of paper Idler pulley Idler pulley edge mark Side against belt

3. Is the distance of the belt 3.5 mm or more from the front edge of the pulley?
YES: No adjustment required at this time. (Refer to the ESM, section EM – Engine Mechanical for further diagnostic information).
NO: Proceed to Re-align A/C Compressor.

Re-align A/C Compressor

1. Remove Air Duct (inlet) shown in Figure 8.

2. Remove Air cleaner body (bank 2).

3. Remove Air cleaner cover (bank 2).

4. Remove Air duct (bank 2).

5. Remove the accessory drive belt. (Refer to the ESM, section EM – Engine Mechanical for removal information).

6. Discharge the A/C refrigerant. xRefer to the ESM, section HA – Heating & Air Conditioning System for information on discharging the A/C system.

7. Remove the nut holding the high pressure hose to the A/C compressor and then disconnect the high pressure hose. NOTE: Do not remove the low pressure hose.

8. Loosen the front two (2) A/C compressor mounting bolts shown in Figure 10. (Do not remove the A/C compressor mounting bolts when loosening).

9. Loosen the single rear A/C compressor mounting bolt shown in Figure 10.

10. Move the A/C compressor up and down to free it from the engine assembly.

11. Push the A/C compressor toward the rear of the vehicle.

12. While holding the A/C compressor toward the rear of the vehicle, tighten the A/C compressor mounting bolts in the order shown in Figure 11 to 5 N•m, (0.51 kg-m, 44 in-lb).NOTE: Take care not to move the A/C compressor until the final torqueing of the bolts in the next step.

13. Torque the A/C compressor mounting bolts to 30.9 N•m, (3.2 kg-m, 23 ft-lb) in the order shown inFigure 11.

14. Re-assemble the vehicle in the reverse order of disassembly.

15. Recharge A/C refrigerant. (Refer to the ESM, section HA – Heating & Air Conditioning System for information on recharging the A/C system).

PARTS INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION
Accessory Drive Belt

PART NUMBER
11720-5CA0A

QUANTITY
1, If Needed

CLAIMS INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION
Align A/C compressor (Includes A/C Evacuate and Recharge)

LABOR TIME
1.8 hrs
 
#4 ·
Thanks Loring for the sharing :) I will check that when the rain will be gone ;)
 
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#3 ·
Good information to post! Thanks!
 
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#5 ·
Very nice, thanks for putting it up there, it'd be a great sticky.


I still love the 3.5mm spec, like at some meeting there was a guy who just said "why not just round up to 4" who was probably shouted down. Maybe the recurrent belt throws are from shops who don't have rulers with tenths of a millimeter on them.
 
#6 ·
It does seem to be a somewhat odd spec. 3.5 mm is about 9/64".
 
#7 ·
It should also be noted just because your vehicle may not have been built before the dates in the TSB does not mean your vehicle is immune to the belt issue. It happens to cars outside these dates as well, albeit maybe at a lower rate.


Also, let's sticky this @Administrator.
 
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#9 ·
It should also be noted just because your vehicle may not have been built before the dates in the TSB does not mean your vehicle is immune to the belt issue. It happens to cars outside these dates as well, albeit maybe at a lower rate.
Agreed. These production ranges are specified by production engineers who believe to their best ability that there were specific events that caused the start and end of this issue, but real world applications mean that this problem is not at all isolated to these vehicles.

That is to say, if the AC compressor can be mounted fore or aft because of mounting clearances, this can happen on any particular VR30, including one that was fine from the factory but later had the AC compressor removed/replaced.
 
#14 ·
If stickied edit to add about the range and if the AC is removed..etc as previously stated..(B4 the sticky is locked and can't be edited)
 
#19 ·
mine is a 2018 has 36,000 miles( yeh' alot) and the belt was noisy as a chorus frog... the dealership said it was not an issue with the 2018 becouse there was no tsb on it and it will cost me 300.00 to replace! I said of course it is!! unless you can tell me that the belts are only designed for 34k miles? its under warranty so fix it because its an unaddressed issue that infinity need to get feedback on so they can adress it in production! that man stood there and stated it was not a alignment issue!! So i said "OK- let me know the specs in writing".. his reply was "Well that will cost you $189.00 for an hour of diagnostics!".."HUH?" I said "NO you just told me it was not an issue and you also stated YOU had NO compelling evidence to back up your claim and since the belt is noisy its an issue isnt it!!"So the way this is going to work is You are going to FIX IT!( yes a leg sweep and he was down.. and they fixed it after i threatened to go to infinity USA and make a complaint about you and your service dept not upholding the underlying issues and treating me as a child! But after me vs the dealership (the leg sweep was all it took...) so a message to all.. be forthright and make noise if the noise you make is factual evidence and stay calm( no actual leg sweeps in play that day- just meteorically ) and Infinity may treat you like an adult. Just remember the trophies on the wall in the office of service managers only display to me they saved the dealership money and the guy you are working with is a good "sales person"!
 
#20 ·
You do mean metaphorically not meteorically? Although a meteoric leg sweep would certainly get the individual's attention!;)
 
#21 ·
Heard the belt squeal today....

Had the radio off last night when coming home, rolled down the window to get some fresh air and heard the dreaded belt squeal at 3,000rpm under mild load. Ugh......

Going to look it over good tonight to ensure no belt fraying and will take it to the dealer after the holiday weekend. I printed off the TSB even though it's not applicable to mine....so they say. Mine is a 2018 built late in the year and has just under 10k miles on it too.

Love the car but with all the serpentine belt snapping issues I'm reading about, I'm glad I have less than 2yrs left on the lease.
 
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#22 ·
Had the radio off last night when coming home, rolled down the window to get some fresh air and heard the dreaded belt squeal at 3,000rpm under mild load. Ugh......

Going to look it over good tonight to ensure no belt fraying and will take it to the dealer after the holiday weekend. I printed off the TSB even though it's not applicable to mine....so they say. Mine is a 2018 built late in the year and has just under 10k miles on it too.

Love the car but with all the serpentine belt snapping issues I'm reading about, I'm glad I have less than 2yrs left on the lease.
I would like to hear an update on this. Also do you have a tune? If so dealer friendly to this? Thanks.
 
#27 · (Edited)
13.08 quarter? My 4000 lb Q does it in 12.41. Slush box and no launch control. Hey, I do have $3 Ferrari valve stem covers from AutoZone tho.
 
#33 ·
Did it again tonight regularly so I'll be taking it in this week. IMO it starts once the belt gets hot/warm

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
#34 ·
Take a picture of the auto tensioner indicator before you take it in! Inquiring minds want to know.
 
#36 ·
Be proactive, everyone! I just had my oil changed at 9800 miles, and I requested that they also inspect the accessory belt per the TSB. My VIN is not included in the original release or revision "A", but the dealership stated that my VIN does fall within the range that they are seeing, and that the belt just hit the misalignment threshold. I will be scheduling to have that replaced next week. I will be requesting that they inspect the belt every other oil change (10,000 miles).
 
#37 ·
Of course I'll be proactive! I have the ProACTIVE package as an option too! :laugh:
 
#38 ·
Make sure they check the AC alignment! Just putting in a new belt is not the solution. If the alignment is off it needs to be fixed.
 
#42 · (Edited)
I went to O'Reilly's Auto Parts tonight to have them look up the Gates P/N for the VR30DDTT serpentine belt. P/N K060766A is valid in the catalog, but requires the Store Manager to order it under "Customer Special Request". The parts guy could not give me a price.

I'll be visiting the store on Tuesday to meet with the Store Manager to check on the specifics of the Special Order.
 
#44 ·
Yes, per the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a warranty claim, if it came to that, could not be denied based on the sole use of an aftermarket belt.

https://www.autocare.org/government-affairs/issues/magnuson-moss-warranty-act/

And with more than 20k on the original belt, I'm not concerned about the belt shredding due to a mis-alignment issue, I'm more worried about belt stretch. I'll install this Gates belt and compare how much the indicator has moved over the next 15-20k miles compared to the OEM belt.
 
#45 ·
Save yourself the hassle and order the belt online?
 
#53 ·
Unfortunately, even with the Gates P/N, I could not find any on-line sources.

So I stopped into O'Reilly's Auto Parts today and special ordered the Gates Serpentine Belt. Manager said it would take a few days. Still don't have a price, but unless it's over $75, I'm not going to quibble too much.

I trust Gates a whole lot more than Bando (according to the Internets, they are the supplier of the OEM belt, but don't quote me on this assumed factoid).
 
#47 ·
Correct me if I'm wrong, a few people have tried to get an after market belt and could not find one, they had to go OEM.
 
#48 ·
read the link, I found one that is the closest you can get to the factory. It's .1 inch shorter and wider. Haven't tried to get one yet.
 
#58 ·
#59 ·
Let me guess, it plays "La Cucaracha" or "Colonel Bogey March"?

A lot of horn failures according to the reviews.