Drive Belt: Description and Operation

Accessory Drive - 3.2L

COMPONENT LOCATION















OVERVIEW

One of the major innovations to the engine's design is the positioning of the accessory drive and its associated ancillaries at the rear of the engine. The accessory drive system overhangs the transmission, allowing the front of the engine to be free of protrusions. This unique design contributes to providing a compact and robust engine.

The polyvee accessory drive-belt obtains its drive from a shaft, powered by the crankshaft. The accessory drive-belt powers the:
^ AC compressor,
^ engine coolant pump, and
^ power steering pump

The engine coolant pump and the power-steering pump share a common coupling.

Belt tension is maintained by an automatic tension system which provides a constant tension without belt slip.

The generator is directly attached by a coupling to the rear of the crankshaft driven shaft. This direct drive arrangement improves the generator's durability by preventing side-loadings, caused by the tension of a drive belt, acting on the generator's rotor bearing.

In addition to helping make the engine compact and robust, the novel arrangement of the accessory drive system also aids in reducing engine weight.