Can you bypass the serpentine belt?

The compressor cannot be bypassed without the use of a compressor bypass pulley. It would cost more for a bypass for the compressor than it would be to just replace the compressor pulley. Install a new pulley or pulley bearing if it can come off of the compressor and then put on a new belt.

What is a bypass pulley?

An AC bypass pulley is a free spinning pulley used to replace the AC compressor on an automotive engine. When the AC compressor goes bad in a vehicle, a consumer often will choose to install an AC bypass pulley. Once installed the vehicle will no longer have air conditioning.

What does the idler pulley do?

The idler pulley is a common part that’s found on the majority of the vehicles on the road. Its primary function is to provide tension and guide the engine drive belt. These belts wrap around the various parts of the engine such as the power steering pump, alternator, water pump etc…

What size serpentine belt do I need to bypass the AC compressor?

You need a 79 inch belt.

What does an AC bypass pulley do?

Can a car run without an AC pump?

You will be fine as long as you don’t need or want AC in your car. Your AC pulley is a free spinning pulley that has a clutch on it. It will spin freely until you turn the air conditioning on. If the clutch doesn’t work properly, you will still be able to drive your car.

Can I replace just the pulley on an AC compressor?

Yes you can just replace the clutch pulley on the a/c compressor. The issue that you may have is the pulley bearing seized up and may have spun on the front of the compressor nose cone and will damage it.

What happens if idler pulley fails?

A broken or seized pulley can quickly lead to a torn belt, or in less serious cases, the belt falling off of the engine. An engine without a belt can quickly run into issues such as overheating and stalling, as it’s the drive belt that allows the engine accessories to function.

Is there a belt to bypass AC compressor?

To bypass or remove the factory AC system, the bypass pulley is installed in place of the factory compressor. You may not even need to change your serpentine belt, but Pep Boys recommends replacing it if you don’t know the last time it was changed.

Can you drive with a locked up AC compressor?

Your car is not safe to drive since the air compressor is operated by the same drive belt as the remainder of the engine (serpentine belt). Because the AC compressor has seized, this could cause the belt to lock up other components resulting in major engine damage.