Replacing Belts?

LORNEHEDGES

MEMBER
1995 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
365,000 MILES

My AC unit is shot, hasn't cooled in years due to leaks throughout the system. Now it sounds like the bearings are shot and I want to remove the unit before it seizes up and snaps the belt. Can I remove the AC unit and reroute the belt? The motor is the 3.3 V6.
This is my drive to the lumber yard vehicle only. With 365000KM on it I'm not looking to spend big bucks on a fix.

1 Reply

MADMIKE1735

MECHANIC
951 POSTS

Yes, you can remove the AC unit and reroute the belt on your 1995 Dodge Caravan with the 3.3 V6 engine. This is a common practice for older vehicles with non-functional or faulty AC systems, especially if you don't want to invest in repairing the AC system.

Here are the general steps to remove the AC unit and reroute the belt:

Disconnect the Battery: Before working on any electrical or mechanical components, disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle's battery to prevent any electrical accidents.

Remove the AC Components: Locate the AC compressor, which is usually driven by a belt at the front of the engine. Detach the AC compressor from its mounting brackets and disconnect any electrical connectors or hoses attached to it. You may need to remove other components in the way, such as the serpentine belt, to access the AC compressor easily.

Install a Shorter Serpentine Belt: After removing the AC compressor, measure the distance between the remaining pulleys and idlers on the engine. You'll need to get a shorter serpentine belt that fits the new configuration without the AC compressor. You can often find belt routing diagrams online or in repair manuals specific to your vehicle.

Reroute the Belt: Route the new, shorter serpentine belt following the belt routing diagram for the non-AC configuration. Make sure it's properly seated on all pulleys and idlers.

Test the New Belt Configuration: Reconnect the battery and start the engine. Let it run for a few minutes to check if the new belt configuration is working correctly and the engine is operating as expected without the AC compressor.