Serpentine belt length to bypass air conditioner?

NATIVE_RIGGED

MEMBER
2004 FORD EXPEDITION
5.4L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
300,000 MILES

Anyone know correct size belt I would need to bypass the air conditioner pulley? I know older vehicles they did a shorter belt length for vehicles without air conditioning. Some uncles and cousins who were the family mechanics have told me it's possible at least until I can afford to get it fixed properly.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,454 POSTS

It would be possible if Ford had mounted the A/C compressor somewhere else. However, because of the way they mounted it and routed the belt a shorter one wouldn't work as there would be no way to keep it tight. The tensioner pulls up on the belt and it is between the A/C and crank pulley. So, say you routed a shorter belt over idler 2 in the attached image, now you would need to change that idler out for one with ribs or it would damage the belt, and the tensioner would barely be working which would cause belt slip.
What you might be able to do is get an A/C bypass pulley and install that. You would remove the AC compressor and set it aside with the lines connected, then install the bypass until you have the chance to replace the A/C pump. Not sure if they make one for it though.
What is the failure on the current unit? The bearing that the pulley rides on?

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