I need to replace the a/c compressor belt on a chrysler 2000 LHS, how do I loosen the tension pulley to remove the first belt?

you need a cerpentine belt tool. check out all the pulleys and you will find that one has a square hole in the bracket holding the roller. that arm is spring loaded to maintain tension on the belt. Its not easy for the first time to do this job. The route the belt goes will be on a sticker diagram somewhere under the hood. sometimes they are on the under side of the hood, while sometimes they are on the car's grill frame. it is usually best to put the belt on all the pulleys except the alternator, then pull the tension pulley arm to facilitate the belt slipping onto the alternator pulley. Do not attempt to put it on the tension pulley last. and be careful the tension pulley tension can give you quite a severe pinch if you get your fingers caught under the belt.

ADJUSTMENT

Excessive belt tension will cause damage to the alternator and water pump pulley bearings, while, on the other hand, loose belt tension will produce slip and premature wear on the belt. Therefore, be sure to adjust the belt tension to the proper level.
To adjust the tension on a drive belt, loosen the adjusting bolt or fixing bolt locknut on the alternator, alternator bracket or tension pulley. Then move the alternator or turn the adjusting bolt to adjust belt tension. Once the desired value is reached, secure the bolt or locknut and recheck tension.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L Engines

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L engines
Alternator Belt

Fig. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the alternator belt from the engine

1. Loosen the alternator support nut.
2. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt.
3. Rotate the adjuster bolt counter clockwise to release the tension on the belt.
4. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the adjuster bolt clockwise until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjuster lock bolt and the alternator support nut.

POWER STEERING BELT

Fig. After the adjusting and fixed bolts are loosened, rotate the pump . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the power steering belt from the engine

1. Remove the alternator belt as described above.
2. Loosen the power steering pump adjusting bolts.
3. Remove the power steering pump fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
4. Rotate the pump toward the engine and remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the pump until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjusting bolts on the pump.
4. Tighten the fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
5. Install the alternator belt.

A/C COMPRESSOR BELT

1. Loosen the tension pulley and remove the belt.
2. The installation is the reverse of the removal.

3.0L DOHC, 3.0L SOHC Galant, and 3.5L Engines

Fig. Serpentine belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.0L engines (except 1998-00 Galant models)

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.5L and 1998-00 3.0L SOHC Galant engines
ALTERNATOR AND A/C COMPRESSOR

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the front undercover.
2. Loosen the tension pulley fixing nut and relieve the tension on the belt by turning the adjusting bolt.
3. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the crankshaft and alternator pulleys.
2. Using the adjusting bolt on the tensioner, tighten the belt to the desired tension.
3. Tighten the fixing nut to hold the adjustment.
4. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle to the floor.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

POWER STEERING BELT

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the undercover.
2. Remove the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
3. Lower the vehicle and remove the cruise control pump link assembly.
4. Place the power steering hose under the oil reservoir.
5. Loosen the tension pulley fixing bolts and remove the power steering pump drive belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering pump drive belt.
2. Insert an extension bar or equivalent into the opening at the end of the tension pulley bracket and pivot the pulley to apply tension to the belt.
3. Tighten the fixing bolts.
4. Raise the vehicle and install the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
5. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

3.0L SOHC Diamante

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the lockbolt on the face of the A/C tensioner pulley.
3. Turn the adjusting bolt of the A/C tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the A/C belt.
4. Remove the A/C compressor belt.
5. Loosen the locknut on the face of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley.
6. Turn the adjusting bolt of the tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the belt.
7. Remove the power steering/alternator belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering/alternator belt first and then the A/C compressor drive belt.
2. Adjust the belts to the proper tension by turning the adjusting bolts and tighten pulley fixing nut/bolt.
3. Tighten the mounting nut of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley to 36 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).

Try some belt dressing. If that doesn't work, the tensioner pulley may not have been installed properly. Return for warrant service.

Remove the alternator/power steering pump and water pump drive belt to gain access to the air conditioning drive belt.
To remove and install the air conditioning compressor drive belt, first loosen the tensioner pulley lock nut, then turn the adjusting screw to raise or lower the tensioner pulley assembly Accessory Drive - 3.3L Engine or Accessory Drive - 3.5L Engine To adjust the air conditioning drive belt, loosen the tensioner pulley nut and adjust belt tension by tightening adjusting screw. Torque pulley nut to 54 N•m (40 ft. lbs.) after adjustment.
The Poly-V generator/power steering belt has an adjustable tensioner pulley located on the timing belt cover Accessory Drive - 3.5L Engine to maintain proper belt tension. To remove or install this belt, Release tension by loosening the tensioner pulley nut and adjustment bolt Accessory Drive - 3.5L Engine Reverse procedure to install and tighten belt to specified tension.

Thanks for using FixYa.

Fig. Accessory drive belt routing-2.7L engine
Chrysler Cirrus & Sebring Convertible; Dodge Stratus; Plymouth Breeze

Fig. Accessory drive belt routing-Chrysler 2.7L engine

2.7L Engine
A/C & Alternator Belt

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the right front wheel and belt splash shield.
3. Loosen tensioner locking bolt and pivot bolt.
4. Rotate tensioner clockwise to allow enough slack to remove belt

To install:

1. Install the air conditioning compressor/alternator belt on pulleys, tensioner in slack position, slip belt over idler last.
2. Adjust drive belt tension.
3. Install the belt splash shield and right front wheel.
4. Lower vehicle.
   
   
   

   Fig. Installing A/C & alternator belt-2.7L engine
   

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Remove the right front wheel and belt splash shield.
4. Loosen the tensioner locking bolt and pivot bolt.
5. Rotate tensioner clockwise to allow enough slack to remove the belt

To install:

1. With the tensioner in a slack position, install the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor/alternator belt on the pulleys. Slip the belt over the idler last.
2. Adjust the drive belt tension.
3. Install the belt splash shield and right front wheel. Tighten the wheel lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs. (136 Nm).
4. Lower the vehicle.
   

Power Steering Belt

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the right front wheel and belt splash shield.
3. Remove the air conditioning compressor/alternator belt.
4. Loosen belt adjusting bolt. It is not necessary to loosen the pivot bolt on the power steering pump. There is a bushing incorporated into the power steering pump/bracket that allows it to pivot.
5. Remove the power steering belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering belt on pulleys.
2. Adjust drive belt tension.
3. Install the air conditioning compressor/alternator belt.
4. Install the belt splash shield and right front wheel.
5. Lower vehicle.

you can use and 18" ratchet extension, or combination of extensions, to loosen the tensioner. You can loosen it by loosening the center pulley bolt from the top. Then from under the car, use your ratchet and extension and turn counterclockwise in the tensioner bolt. This will allow you to remove the old belt. Do the reverse to replace the belt. Here you can find the quality parts http://www.turbochargerpros.com/about-supercharger.html

I don't have the figure for your car, but the below figure shows how to remove the A/C belt.
the other belts should have a simple slot in the bracket for adjusting. If you have more questions, let us know.


3.0L SOHC Diamante

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the lockbolt on the face of the A/C tensioner pulley.
3. Turn the adjusting bolt of the A/C tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the A/C belt.
4. Remove the A/C compressor belt.
5. Loosen the locknut on the face of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley.
6. Turn the adjusting bolt of the tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the belt.
7. Remove the power steering/alternator belt.
   

To install:

1. Install the power steering/alternator belt first and then the A/C compressor drive belt.
2. Adjust the belts to the proper tension by turning the adjusting bolts and tighten pulley fixing nut/bolt.
3. Tighten the mounting nut of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley to 36 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).

NOTE The manufacturer does not provide a torque specification for the bolt that secures A/C tensioner pulley.

1. Connect the negative battery cable.
   

When you replace the AC belt you really should replace the serpentine belt as well, since you will have to take it off already. If you don't do it now it is inevitable that you will have to replace it in like 3 weeks anyway : )

You need to first remove the serpentine belt by loosening the nut in the center of the idler pulley. After that you will need to loosen the push bolt on the side of the idler pulley. The hub bolt is a 15mm size and the push bolt on the side of the tensioner is a 13mm I think. After you loosen it sufficiently, you will need to pull off the old belt.

Next you will need to loosen the tensioner pulley for the AC belt as well. It is the same process. The main issue is space. You will most likely need to raise your car to get at the right angles to loosen these pulleys.

Once you loosen the idler pulley in the same manner as you loosened the other, you can slip the AC belt onto the back of the crank pulley and route it as the diagram under your hood instructs you. Next tighten up the idler pully in the opposite way as you loosend it...tighten up the push bolt until the belt play is within factory specifications, then tighten the hub bolt in the center of the pulley. Do the same for the serpentine belt and you should be up and running in no time. I just performed these tasks on my 2000 300m and I wish someone would have told me this before I started my project. Hope this helps, Good Luck!

I had the same problem coming back from Hilton Head Island over July 4th weekend. I had been experiencing a grinding noise for sometime coming from the a/c compressor pulley. Aside from the noise, the a/c had been blowing strong, and cold with out any problems. Unfortunately I neglected it for too long, and it locked up after a terrible squeal, followed by a little smoke (belt burning). I cut off the belt, and was on my way. Granted it was a bit hot, but I was sure glad I was able to get home! I have found replacement a/c compressors w/clutch online from $200-$350 depending on condition (rebuilt vs new). I strongly recommend attending to the problem at the first sign of any noise.

your serpentine drive belt could be slipping over your power steering pump. Sounds like a premature failure from your pump. This is not an easy fix depending on the location of the pump itself. Remove your serpentine belt, locate the pump and pulley. Try to spin the pulley by hand. If there is alot of tension, your pump may need replacing. If not, try replacing the belt and check your belt tensioner for looseness.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/david_62314e5b2470e8b5