Cheap AC Bypass **PICTURE**

[gijoe31484]

Recently my AC clutch seized up on me and I figured out a new route for the serpentine belt.
If your freezes up and you can't afford to get it fixed...use these instructions on this link to get your pulley and clutch off. I didn't have the pulley puller so i used a pry bar, hammer, a bit leverage, and lots of redbull.

http://www.sparkys-answers.com/2009/03/2002-jeep-liberty-intermitent-ac.html

The belt you will need is a 6-rib 82.5 inch length. $28ish=D>

The attached picture shows the new route. I checked, and everything turns the right direction and I even did a 35 mile round trip right afterwards with no problems. You could probably use up to an 83.5 inch length because my tensioner pulley is at about 75% capacity....it should stretch out a little bit though. =D>

 

[family KJ]

Been there and done that! Lasted about 2 years until I got money to get it repaired

 

[jnaut]

Thanks GI joe. Bookmarked this thread. Always helps to have a picture.

 

[TAwesome]

Nice!!!!

 

[azmotoman]

This would be a good time to buy a spare and be ready for the 'boonie breakdown'.

Is there a Gates P/N?

 

[deadstar717]

GIJoe,

I see that this post is a year old, but the AC Comp just seized up on my '02 Liberty 2WD Sport. I just want to be sure on the belt size... it sounds like 82.5" worked for you, but was your Liberty an '02?

Thanks,

David

 

[Akedos]

Exact same thing I did here, even the same belt size iirc:

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40044

 

[ridenby]

I am using a duralast 827K6.

 

[simond]

nice hint... will consider thaht when the ac's gonna die!

 

[Sparky1187]

Were there any special tools required to remove the pulley from the compressor?

 

[simond]

Were there any special tools required to remove the pulley from the compressor?

normally you should use a puller kit...but prybar and redbull are another solution!

 

[gijoe31484]

Were there any special tools required to remove the pulley from the compressor?

not really--i used a hammer, pry-bar, snap ring wrench, and adjustable wrench. You could benefit from a harmonic puller though.

 

[Alivenjeepin]

Have spent 2 days researching this issue for my 04 Liberty. This and other linked threads were awesome, many thinks to you!! The actual photo (gijoe's), not the sketches, shows what I saw as the best solution and almost the one I followed. I used an 82 1/8" belt (couldn't find a 82 1/2" locally), and it was tight... but it fit. Also, I left the pulley on, but raised the compressor enough to give over a 1/2" of clearance between the belt and the bottom of the pulley.

I understand this is an older thread, but it's a common problem and one that it looks like every Liberty owner is going to face.

Edit... lifting the compressor is a very temporary fix. On bumpy roads I noticed belt wear from that pulley. Not difficult to remove it, so I did.

 

[KeswickDave]

My A/C clutch started smoking yesterday (while running the A/C)... turned the A/C off and it made it home, and hasn't smoked since but I'm sure it's on it's last legs.

Today I bought an 82 1/2" belt, no way it will fit based on the routing in the photo in the first post.

I rushed back to NAPA before they closed, they have other sizes, but they all cost more and I forgot my damn wallet at home! Grrrr.

So I will be back tomorrow morning, testing them out in the parking lot until I find one that fits!

Apparently the stock sizes are different, I was searching online and found:

2002-2003 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 87.6 in.
2004-2006 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 86.5 in.
2007-2009 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 86.8 in.

Note, these are the stock sizes listed on www.jpartsonline.com, just to show there is a difference between model years.

I'm not sure why I need a longer one for my '05, but it is what it is

I will update with the results tomorrow!

 

[chill]

My A/C clutch started smoking yesterday (while running the A/C)... turned the A/C off and it made it home, and hasn't smoked since but I'm sure it's on it's last legs.

Today I bought an 82 1/2" belt, no way it will fit based on the routing in the photo in the first post.

I rushed back to NAPA before they closed, they have other sizes, but they all cost more and I forgot my damn wallet at home! Grrrr.

So I will be back tomorrow morning, testing them out in the parking lot until I find one that fits!

Apparently the stock sizes are different, I was searching online and found:

2002-2003 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 87.6 in.
2004-2006 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 86.5 in.
2007-2009 Jeep Liberty SERPENTINE BELT -- 86.8 in.

Note, these are the stock sizes listed on www.jpartsonline.com, just to show there is a difference between model years.

I'm not sure why I need a longer one for my '05, but it is what it is

I will update with the results tomorrow!

Good to know this for me. I like quickie fixes.

 

[Atrus]

Good to know this for me. I like quickie fixes.

If I am not mistaken, that's WITH the compressor in the loop. It'd be something less without it.

 

[KeswickDave]

If I am not mistaken, that's WITH the compressor in the loop. It'd be something less without it.

Yes, just to be clear - the above measurements are the standard, stock belt in the standard belt path with the A/C compressor in the loop.

I am trying to determine the without-compressor length required for my '05.

It just occurred to me I could try running a piece of string around to get a ballpark measurement, might not be too accurate though.

 

[KeswickDave]

For my '05 the belt size which fit to bypass the A/C clutch is 83 1/8".

Which is pretty funny because the 82 1/2" belt cost me $37... this one was $96! Same brand (NAPA, made by Gates), same product line, same same same, except the extra 5/8" is worth $59. They blah blah blahed about different lengths and popularity of the size. Whatever, I didn't have time to shop around.

After a few hours of cursing and swearing and making my own puller tool, I got the freaking pulley off Shoulda tried some Redbull. Need to get me a snap ring wrench. I was able to shimmy the first one off with a couple of screwdrivers, but the second one is buried in there pretty good, but I didn't need to remove it right away anyways - just getting the pulley off was enough to clear the belt by about 1/2".

Belt routing - same as pic in OP, but I'll put it here in case that one disappears one day...

You must be registered for see images attach

Home-made pulley puller, worked like a champ after an hour or so of hammering, prying, cursing and swearing I thought it was going to keep bending but it got the pulley off.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Luke]

You are a crafty fella ain't cha

 

[KeswickDave]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do! What can I say... my car is at my mechanic's and the Jeep was undrivable so I was getting that damn pulley off one way or another, especially since my reefing and banging on it caused it to become jammed... no turning back!

I'm just glad I bought that tap and die set when it was on sale at Crappy Tire, so's I could do me some redneck engineerin'!