12 replies to this topic

[DerFahrer]

Well, not removal so much as moving it to the side. Apparently my water pump O-ring is leaking since there is coolant dripping in that area from the timing covers, and I can't get to the water pump without moving the A/C compressor. Oh, if only the 80's Scoobs were as easy as first-gen Legacies :brolleye:

So anyway, I took the belt off, and removed 5 bolts so far, including the one on the intake manifold, the two underneath the alternator, one peeking out behind the fan, and another one symmterical from the alternator one. Yet it still won't budge. Which one am I missing? This kinda bites, coz even if there is one more, I don't think I could reach it :madder:

[EmmCeeBee]

Five bolts sounds right..... I did this in August and made extensive notes, I can check at home tonight and report tomorrow.

You did take off the alternator, right? It's gonna be a lot easier to move the A/C if you do. I also built a contraption out of scrap 2x4's, looks like a mini-crane, that I bolted into the spare tire mounting hole. The "crane" part was about 30" long and stuck out over the A/C compressor, so when I had the compressor free I suspended it without kinking the hoses.

I do remember the hardest bolt to get to was hidden just above the water pump. This is probably the one "peeking out behind the fan" you mentioned. It has a thick spacer under it (like a 3/4" stack of washers). Make sure you catch this when it falls...... and get it back into position when you're done.

The alternator was kind of "press fitted" onto it's swivel mounting. But I don't remember the A/C compressor being hard to budge. I'll check tonight if there's a 6th bolt.

-- Mark

[EmmCeeBee]

A bit more memories come out of the haze:

The A/C compressor is mounted on a bracket. You don't want to unbolt it from the bracket; you want to remove the compressor/bracket from the engine. I say this cuz, at first look, it seems obvious to remove some bolts under the alternator..... These are in fact just attaching the A/C compressor to the bracket. Make sure you're removing the right bolts.

-- Mark

[DerFahrer]

Yeah I removed the alternator, I agree that I don't think this could be done with the alternator in place...

I have an XT which has its spare tire in the trunk like a normal car , so that wouldn't work for me...

I unbolted every bolt I could find that held the bracket to the block, as I understand what you're saying, better to remove the whole thing with the bracket. But it still won't budge...

The beauty is I don't plan on the car running right away, so I'm willing to take more stuff off and take some more time...
Thanks for the help so far, though Emm...

[pearlm30]

I am in the same process of replacing the water pump. It looks like not only the ac compressor need to be removed, but the timing covers as well( crank pulley need to be remove in order to remove timing cover ) By doing all above to just take 2 water pump bolts off under the timing cover( total of 5 bolts for water pump ). Major pains:banghead:
Anyone here can suggest a easier way to do this?
Thanks

[calebz]

First, which AC unit do you have .. is it 'inboard' or 'outboard'?

And paerl, yes you do have to remove the timing covers and the crank pulley.. it looks like a pain, but its not that hard.. 22mm bolt.

[biffbradford]

I don't remember taking any covers off when I stripped the AC from my '87 XT Turbo. I left the bracket on and just removed the compressor.

jw
milwaukee

[DerFahrer]

Caleb, I'm not sure what you mean 'inboard' or 'outboard'... I'm still officially an 80's Subaru n00b, I'm afraid :brolleye:

[calebz]

Originally posted by biffbradford
I don't remember taking any covers off when I stripped the AC from my '87 XT Turbo. I left the bracket on and just removed the compressor.

jw
milwaukee

Biff, I was responding to pearls waterpump removal stuff.. thats what you have to take the timong belt covers and crank pulley off for

Suby- there are a few different AC units in 80s soobs .. outboard means the AC unit is next to the battery, inboard means its between th PS pump and the alt.. the reason I bring this up, is because depending on which one you have, they use different brackets and such.. one is factory installed, one is dealer installed.. cant remember which is which though.

[EmmCeeBee]

OK, I checked my notes last night....

First of all, I have the "inboard" A/C, it's a Hitachi compressor. If yours is different, or the "outboard" mount (never seen one of them), then this might not apply.

There are only 4 bolts to remove the A/C compressor. There's lots more than that bolted into the compressor, but the extra ones are bracket-only bolts.

1) Into the intake manifold.
2) Under the alternator.
3) Above the water pump. This bolt is weird.... The hex head is about 2" long (if it was a normal head, you'd never be able to fit a wrench in there).
4) Deep under the A/C, between the P/S pump and the water pump. This is the one I mentioned that has the spacer on it. It's tough to see, harder to get to. You need a deep well socket which barely fits through the maze of parts.

I haven't worked on an XT, but I gotta believe it's the same -- EA82 mounting points couldn't change. Unless you have a different compressor. Good luck!

-- Mark

[DerFahrer]

This is a factory A/C unit, as it has the compressor speed sensor (which I've never seen by the way :eh: ), and it's "inboard"... I removed the intake manifold bolt, I removed the one underneath the alternator, I removed the one in between the PS pump and water pump, yeah that's going to be fun to put back in , but this 2-inch long one... isn't that one of the bolts that holds the A/C belt tensioner on there? That's pretty loose right now, but the compressor is not...

I might give it a try after work tonight...

Thanks a bunch for your help guys...

[EmmCeeBee]

I shouldn't have let my memory interfere with my notes.... The "2 inches" was from memory :-\

Yeh, the 2" long-headed bolt (I'm calling it a "standoff" bolt for lack of a better name) is for the A/C belt tensioner. There's another standoff bolt directly behind the tensioner -- THAT'S the one I meant, and it's only about 1" long and it bolts the A/C bracket to the engine.

The 2" standoff bolt for the tensioner looks like it takes a 12mm socket. The 1" long standoff bolt for the A/C bracket looks like a 14mm. I'm sure you'll have to remove the tensioner pulley itself to get at it.

Hope you're getting closer.

-- Mark

[DerFahrer]

I found that bolt today before seeing this even! :-) Upon getting the A/C tensioner loose, I found the bolt and got it out. Compressor is moved out of the way, and I proceeded to pull the water pump pipe out and make a big mess

So thanks for the help! Much appreciated!