A/C Belt Replacement Question

[Swoboda]

I went to replace my fan belt and A/C belt, and cut off the old ones and reattached the fan belt without issue.

The A/C belt is next. Is there any "easy" way to do this? The screws holding the compressor to the engine are VERY tight and hard to get a solid grip on (and I don't want to strip anything or bang anything up in this process).

There may not be any short-cuts here, but I thought I would ask. It would be nice to have a litte A/C in my car again.

Thanks.

Lawrence

[kuehl]

What year is the car, can you identify the compressor in case its not OEM

[Swoboda]

My fault, sorry.

It's a 1985 Carrera with stock compressor (Nippondenso, I think).

It has been converted to r134 from r12.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Lawrence

[rusnak]

13mm socket w wobble extension, and a 13mm box end wrench. I cut off the tightener bolt, and use a prybar instead to tighten the belt. Much faster and easier.

[JAR0023]

There is a fourth hidden nut/bolt hiding in the right front corner of the mount. It'll be your back right if you standing at the rear of the car looking in. Between the oil filter and A/C line it's a ***** to get to. Gear wrench gets it done for me. The other three I just use a socket and extension. 13mm IIRC. Once all four are loose, just break the lock nut free on the adjuster and turn the adjuster out. The bracket should slide over and give you the slack you need to install the belt. -J

[kuehl]

Tools required:
3/8" ratchet wrench,
6" extenison
13 mm socket
13 mm stubby wrench
anti seize compound

Loosen belt tensioner lock nut 8.
Back out belt tensioner bolt 9.

Loosen compressor support bracket bolt 6, there are 3, one of
the three is located on the right side toward the front of the car
adjacent to the suction/return hose fitting, use a short stubby
wrench.

Slide the compressor on its support bracket as far as you can
to the left. If still do not have enough slack to get the belt on or
off the compressor pulley, then remove the loosen and remove
bolt 11, there are three. If it requires a lot of torque to break them
free then tighten one of the three bolt 6 to hold the support bracket
to the base plate while you do that task. Then, with the three bolt
11 removed tilt the compressor toward the left and you will have
plenty of room to R&R the belt.

If you remove bolts 11, put some anti seize on the threads of these
long 90 mm bolts before you re-assemble.

Also, put anti seize on threads of tensioner bolt 9.

[Swoboda]

Thank you, gentlemen! I have my weekend project.

[samourai71]

Hi, just did mine.
You can also make a mark in front of the compressor.
This way you can re-position the compressor where it was.
(of course the new belt might be tighter than the old one)
I used a 13m curved ratchet for the right-rear bolt.
After you don't need to tighten those bolts too hard (for next time).
the belt should move (wobble) 1-2mm in the middle (for tightness).

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by Swoboda

Thank you, gentlemen! I have my weekend project.

Hey, why waste a good weekend. Fix it today!

Just call in sick today or hang a "Closed - Went Fishin" sign on the front door.