2000 Ford Taurus A/C compressor

NIC199112324112

MEMBER
2000 FORD TAURUS
3.0L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
217,000 MILES

I just replaced my a/c compressor. I removed the passenger side cooling fan, the power steering pressure hose, the O2 sensor connector on the exhaust manifold, and the serpentine belt to remove it. After I hooked everything back up with the new compressor and o rings in place, I cranked the vehicle to check before replacing the a/c accumulator. I noticed the belt was very loose, and power steering fluid had poured out from where the pressure hose meets the power steering reservoir. I removed it again and installed an o ring on the 17mm bolt and cranked it again. It wasn't leaking any longer but the belt is still very loose. I have the serpentine belt diagram from All data Pro, so I'm sure it's installed properly, but I can't figure out why the belt is still loose. All pulleys spin freely and are not wobbling at all. Please help!

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,742 POSTS

Actually, there is most likely a spring-loaded tensioner pulley that is stuck. There was one that you had to release with a ratchet or wrench. Check that it moved back all the way. Just because it moved back a little on its own doesn't mean it went far enough. The clue is the belt will appear to be only about an inch too long.

If you find the belt is two or three inches too long, it is almost certainly routed incorrectly. I've been confused a few times after following the diagram on the side of the engine. Often they will show the routing with and without an AC compressor. When there's no compressor, on some engines there's an idler pulley instead, but on others, the routing is considerably different because other components like the power steering pump can be located in a different place.