Warning: The refrigerant is under high pressure. Do not loosen fasteners or remove any components until the system has been drained by a professional. Wear safety glasses when disconnecting fittings on the air conditioning system.
1. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal.
2. Apply the parking brake and block the rear wheels.
3. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it on jack stands.
4. Unscrew the splash guard and remove the drive belt from the compressor (see Chapter 1).
5. Disconnect the clutch electrical connector from the compressor.
6. Disconnect the air conditioning system pipes from the rear of the compressor and immediately plug any open fittings to prevent dust and moisture from entering the system.
15.6. Top view of the air conditioner compressor, showing the refrigerant line fittings and upper mounting bolts (shown by arrows)
7. Unscrew the compressor mounting bolts and remove it from the engine compartment. Note the thickness and position of the adjusting washers to install them during assembly.
15.7. Typical air conditioning compressor mounting parts. 1. Distributor Cap, 2. Drive Belt, 3. Refrigerant Line, 4. O-Ring, 5. Electrical Connector, 6. Compressor, 7. Compressor Mounting Bracket, 8. Drive Belt Tensioner Assembly, 9. Nut, 10. Pulley, 11. Bushing, 12. Adjuster Bolt, 13. Shaft, 14. Tensioner Bracket
Note: Keep the compressor level when storing and handling. If the compressor seizes up or metal particles are found in the piping, have the air conditioning professional flush the system and replace the receiver/dryer.
Installation
8. Before installation, rotate the center part of the coupling six times to distribute the oil collected in the head.
9. Install the compressor in the reverse order of removal.
10. When installing a new compressor, fill the system with refrigerant according to the manufacturer's instructions.
11. Pumping, charging and checking the tightness of the system must be carried out by the same workshop that discharged the system.