Need belt help!

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Jul 29, 2011 | 06:14 AM

LeeLeadingham

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Need belt help!

Okay, So my ac compressor went bad, and now i need a new belt. I want to find a belt to fit it, without the ac compressor for right now. Don't have the money to dish out for a new ac compressor.. If someone can tell me the right length, or part number, i would be thankful.

98 Expedition, with the 4.6L

Jul 29, 2011 | 07:51 AM

c_hohensee

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I don't know if you can bypass just by changing belt lengths, but I don't think so. Another way that would be cheaper than a new compressor is an ac eliminator pulley. It is a bracket and pulley that replaces the compressor. I have seen them for Mustangs with the modular engine, so I would imagine they are available for your vehicle.

Jul 29, 2011 | 10:52 AM

alloro

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeLeadingham

Okay, So my ac compressor went bad, and now i need a new belt.

If it's just the compressor and not the pulley, then just unplug the 2-wire connector going to the compressor.

Jul 30, 2011 | 12:30 PM

ScottyDsntKnow

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Agreed, unless it is totally seized up or the bearing went all to hell then just unhook it.

You definitely can just run a shorter belt but you need to make SURE you route the shorter belt in a way where there is sufficient tension and that all the accessories are spinning in the same direction. I've seen plenty of posts on Mustang forums where guys run short belts to delete the AC/power steering/smog and they forget that the water pump has to go in one direction and wind up grenading the whole motor...

Best way to measure for length is to have someone hold the tensioner all the way down and route a piece of string around the remaining pullies to get the right length you need.

Jul 30, 2011 | 05:32 PM

fordno1

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If you look at the belt routing diagram stuck to the black filler piece under the hood, I doubt you can bypass it. The tensioner is right above the ac compressor and so is the idler. You are best to fix it the proper way because there is a very strong possibility it will not work and why waste all that time trying. Unless you have an afternoon to kill. If it is the bearing in the a/c clutch assembly, you can sometimes just replace that part without having to remove the compressor. Those are about $100. Dorman makes a bypass pulley set up for about $30. The part number is 34189.

Jul 30, 2011 | 07:31 PM

alloro

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fordno1

If it is the bearing in the a/c clutch assembly, you can sometimes just replace that part without having to remove the compressor. Those are about $100.

Here's the whole clutch and pulley kit for $70 +shipping.
Expedition/Navigator A/C Compressor Clutch Kit CL 0542C - eBay (item 280717235014 end time Aug-06-11 17:28:38 PDT)

Jul 30, 2011 | 08:14 PM

fordno1

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From: Wisconsin

That isn't a bad price. $83 with shipping. Buy that and be done. Now, can you replace the pulley/coil without removing the compressor from the truck? That is the question. I haven't looked at mine to know.