2G How to replace air conditioning belt?

[2GOwner]

I am replacing the three accessory belts on my 1997 Eclipse GST, but I cannot get the air conditioning belt on. With the bolts loosened the other two belts have plenty of clearance to get them around the pulleys, but with the pivot and adjusting bolts completely loosened the air conditioning belt is still too short to get around the pulleys.

I am unsure how I was able to get the old belt off since the new one is slightly longer. I have tried turning the engine over and walking the belt onto the pulleys. Does it matter which is the last pulley I try to pull the belt over? I have tried each in turn, the larger two I can get a little of the belt onto the pulley but would need another two or three inches of length to get it completely around and don't have enough slack to even get the belt started on the tension pulley. I have tried removing the pulleys wrapping the belt around them and putting them back on, but the bolt holes end up being misaligned by an inch or more. The parts I am using are all OEM and have the right part number so I would think that they are the correct size.

Could someone give a detailed explanation of how to get the air conditioning belt onto the pulleys? All the threads I have found give a step by step on how to remove it, but simply say to put the new belt on, and reversing the steps has gotten me nowhere. Nor have I found any videos showing accessory belt replacement for the 2G, and the advice given in other accessory belt replacement videos hasn't worked. Hopefully there is just a simple trick to it that I am missing.

 

[wolf alchemy]

You said you could kinda get it on. If you have a really short flat head. I'd use that the lightly pry it centimeter, by centimeter, going back and forth from top to bottom along the pulley. If no body gives better instructions.

 

[97 eclenger]

theres probably an easier way, but i've always taken the ac tensioner off to get the belt on. its also the main reason i no longer have it because its too much of a pain. its just 2 bolts on the tensioner. belt back on and feel for the bolt hole. once one is started the other will be better

 

[pauleyman]

Double check your part numbers. You may have swapped alt and ac belts. I've also been given nt belts by mistake before although I noticed as soon as they left the package

 

[2GOwner]

After trying what has been suggested. When the belt is held so it follows the same curve it would when around the pulley it is about an inch below the edge of the pulley, so I cannot get it on at all, if a tiny part of it is on the pulley the far end of the curve is even farther from where it needs to be. I haven't been able to get it anymore of the belt around the pulley using screwdrivers, or pry bars.

I tried taking off the tension pulley, the crank pulley, and the air conditioning pulley, individually, in pairs, and all together. Two go back on, but the third is always at least an inch from where it needs to be for the bolt holes to line up.

The part numbers all match up. The alternator belt is a little longer than the air conditioning belt, so might presumably be easier to put in the wrong place.

I know it is not proper, but would it cause a problem with some component to switch the air conditioning and alternator belts, if they fit in each other's place? The alternator belt had an abundance of slack after loosening the pivot and tension bolts, so I may be able to get the air conditioning belt around those pulleys.

Also, would someone be willing to provide center to center measurements of the crank pulley, tension pulley and air conditioning pulley, if it is not too much of an inconvenience.

 

[pauleyman]

I think you have the wrong belt. You did back off the ac tension bolt?

 

[chrysler kid]

The ac belt slides on and off easily with the tensioner at full slack. You have it routed incorrectly or have the wrong belt.