I feel very very stupid asking this question and yes I am a newb.. but.
I thought it would be easy to install a compressor drive belt that was cut off from a mechanic that said it was bad.. however replacement belt was not available long story short now I was trying to install it.

My question.. does the compressor have to come off to get the belt on?

As far as I can tell yes. (i belive this is a V-Belt)

if the compressor does have to come off, do the freon tubes also need to be removed to get the bolts out?

if there is a easier way please let me know.
Also if I have missed a tutorial somewhere please point me to it if possible

THANK YOU!!!

 

I just finished doing a timing, alternator, power steering and ac belt job on a 98 LX. The compressor doesn't have to come off. However the engine mount that bolts to the under side of the frame needs to be loosened to get the new belt on. No big deal if you keep the top engine mount hooked up. Otherwise you need to support the engine from underneath.
Lemme find the page in my helms manual to give you a visual.

 

Actually it's pretty much self explanatory.
Jack the front driver's side of the car up, take off the wheel, pull the fender liner back (few 10mm bolts on the underside of the bumper gets that off) and go from there.
Loosen the 14mm bolt on the tensioner and move it down by using an 8mm socket and a big *** extension to take pressure off the belt.
Trust me, it's not hard at all.

 

THANK YOU!
Yeah my problem came when I was going to put it on and came to the mount bar.

Obviously the belt needs to be around this bar... the bar will actually stay on the inside of the belt..only 2 ways I saw to do that was either remove the compressor.. just enough to slide the belt around it.. .. or somehow remove that mount area.

i did not want to just loosen something that especially was MOUNTED to the frame of the car. so thank you for your reply.. I basically need to take that bolt out of the mount.. and I am assuming that allows room behind it allowing me to slide the belt up to even be able to get it around the tensioner pully.

Thanks again

 

Actually there's 2 bolts that hold the mount to the frame. That's the easiest way to do it. I think they're 14mm bolts. Don't mess with the one on the side of the mount. That's the hard way to do it. Just take out the two 14mm bolts underneath.

 

yup saw that and it worked perfectly... also learned the rubber mount inside was also broken.. will figure out how much that is gonna cost later.

thank you again so much for your help I very much appreciate it.

If you care to reply... is that really a MOTOR mount? or is it just for vibration? does it really support the weight of the engine?

Thanks again!

 

weight of the engine is supported by the top engine mount (big rubber thing by your cruise control).
Honestly I don't know what that lower mount supports. I know I have to get a new one for my Si.