How do you loosen the ac compressor to install a new ac belt.

i do hope this helps its for the serpentine belt
First, jack up the car, use jack stands, yadda yadda etc.

Remove the lower splash shield.

Youll see a skid plate looking thing on the ac compressor, remove that with a 12mm socket.

Now you have to remove the AC compressor. There are four stud/bolt things holding it on. Also 12mm.

Once the bolts are out the AC compressor is basically held up by the belt and the AC lines. Work the AC belt off of the pulley and then secure the ACcompressor out of the way. Dont let it hang by the AC lines.

Go back up to the top of the engine and remove the engine cover, it just pulls right off.

Youll see the serpentine belt and the tensioner pulley (basically the pulley at the front of the motor and right on top).

Note the routing of the belt for reinstallation.

Put a socket on the tensioner pulley (either 12 or 14mm) and push towards the firewall.

Youll see the belt loosen.

Now slip the belt off of the tensioner pulley.

You can release the tension on the pulley slowly now.

Work the serp belt off of the rest of the pullies.

Installation is basically the reverse of removal, but it can be tricky to route the belt on since its new and rigid. It helps to have a friend push on the tensioner while you route the belt. I managed to do it by myself, but I have long arms. It also took me several tries and much swearing!

Now putting the AC belt back on can be tricky due to the fact that it is a stretch belt, and will be very tight.

I slipped the belt on the crank pulley and then pulled the AC compressor up as high as I could. Then I could slip the belt on. Little note here, because the belt was so tight the compressor wouldnt slip back into position. I used my floor jack on the bottom of the compressor and very slowly pushed on it with the jack.

Then line up the AC compressor, resecure the bolts/nuts etc.

Reinstall splash shield.

DONE

loosen the belt of the compressor, remove the fittings of the compressor. be careful handling refrigerant.
remove bolts holding the compressor and remove it.

install the ac bypass pulley in replacement of the compressor.

tnx 4 using fixya,
drcool

have dealership discharge airconditioning system.you need to disconnect refrigerant lines going to the AC compressor you probably need refrigerant lines disconnect tools to remove disconnect refrigerant lines.you need to remove drive belt.and safely raise support vechicle remove tire or wheel work from under vechicle you have to loosen AC COMPRESSOR bolts then remove AC COMPRESSOR.be sure pour old refrigerant in a measuring cup so you can pour same amount new oil in the new compressor.add couple ounces if old AC COMPRESSOR dry.

loosen the belt tension adjuster jam nut on side and loosen the lockscrew to loosen release tension to the AC COMPRESSOR belt.your vechicle has two tension adjusters one for power steering and tension adjuster for AC COMPRESSOR AND ALTERNATOR.

the bolts on the brackets are slotted loosen them up and slide the compressor replace the belt and tighten it up

too much to type...you should go to an auto parts store and get a book on your truck about $20,00 it will have all the specs....

The best place to start is investing in a "Haynes" or "Chilton" manual for the specific make/model/year. often you can find such a book at your local library.

Barring that, I can tell you of some Mazda expeience I had on an MX 6 which may be quite similar. First of all, and this is IMPORTANT, make a sketch of the "layout" of the large serpentime belt that goes around the inner race of the main crankshaft pulley (and everything else other than the AC compressor). Note that there is an "idler" pulley, something like 4 inches across, around which the smooth outside of the serpentine belt goes. Notice also on the compressor, there is a brass-colored post that sticks out ending in a 10mm hex. This needs to be turned several turns counterclockwise to loosen the tension; it is also necessary to loosen the compressor mounting bolt that maintains the tension (loosen them all if you are not sure which one, just remember to re-tighten). Now, go ahead and loosen/remove the stud holding the idler pulley onto the front of the engine, and remove the pulley and its washer. The belt should come right off. Install the new belt, reinstall the pulley making sure the new belt is "tracked" right according to the sketch you made before you removed it, retighten the compressor 10mm hex-head tensioner until there is between 1/2 and 1 inch of 'give' in the logest stretch of belt when you push/pull on it with a few pounds of force., Lock down any bolts you may have loosened on the compressor. With the engine in neutral, turn the engine by hand, clockwise, using a socket wrench on the main pulley bolt to see that things "look" right and maintain their tension. Then start the engine and let it idle for a bit and examine that things still look right.

FOR THE 3.0L ENGINE IF YOU REPLACE AC BELT LOOSEN TOP IDLER PULLEY CENTER BOLT. IF YOU REPLACING ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP BELT LOOSEN ALTERNATOR ADJUSTMENT BOLT AND PIVOT BOLT.IF REPLACING POWER STEERING PUMP BELT LOOSEN POWER STEERING PUMP ADJUSTMENT BOLT AND MOUNTING BOLTS.****** FOR THE 2.4L ENGINE TO REMOVE POWER STEERING BELT LOOSEN TOP IDLER PULLEY.FOR ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP BELT LOOSEN ALTERNATOR ADJUSTER BOLT, PIVOT AND MOUNTING BOLTS.FOR AC COMPRESSOR LOOSEN LOWER IDLER PULLEY.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/villagerquest/

Belt —A/C Removal

1. Remove the A/C compressor drive belt.
   1. Loosen the A/C compressor drive belt pulley tensioner bolt.
   1. Loosen the A/C compressor drive belt idler pulley adjustment bolt.

Installation

1. CAUTION: Incorrect drive belt installation will cause drive belt failure.
   NOTE: Inspect the pulleys for warping or abnormal wear.
   NOTE: Make sure drive belt is properly installed on each pulley.
   To install, reverse the removal procedure.
   • Adjust the A/C compressor drive belt. For additional information, refer to Belt Adjustment—A/C .

it has more than one bolt.
loosen them all.