mc_renn

I was replacing all the belts and everything was going fine and I was putting together the ac compressor and the bolt that adjusts the tension just sheared off! Now is it ok to use the AC or do I need to take off the A/C belt? The tension seems fine but I don't want to take any chances.

touque

Mc - if the belt is tight enough you're ok. Mine was like that when I bought my car and it wasn't a problem. The only time you'll miss it is if you have to tighten it in the future.

Did you loosen the adjusting nut first?

Vandit

Assuming you can get the broken bolt out of there, a trip to the Lowe's hardware aisle should solve your problems.

mc_renn

thanks for the info. i wasn't able to tighten it before it broke off. I tried to manually pull the compressor to the left and then tighten the bolts. It seems to be tight enough but there is some slack.

mc_renn

actually the actual metal piece holding the bolt just ripped off. i wasn't even putting a lot of effort into it--it broke off like a piece of styrofoam!

altarchsa

The bolt serves no purpose after the 4 compressor bolts are tightened, so OK to run A/C without it. You can use a pry bar to move the compressor and tighten the belt further, but ONLY if the pry bar is placed against the groove of the pully.