[anthony_tn]

Hope somebody can point me in the right direction on this problem with my wife's car. It's an 04 Taurus, with the 3.0L OHV. She told me the A/C wasn't cold and there was a rattling coming from the front of the car. Took a look at the compressor and as the pic shows, the bolt has worked loose(and gone) from the clutch and the plate would've came came off if the fender well wasn't in the way. I'm used to working on older vehicles, and definately no front wheel drives. What's the best way to get to this thing? The Haynes manual I have is about useless. Is there anyway to get the clutch plate back on without having to take out the compressor? If not, since the power steering pump if above the compresser,does the pulley have to come off the PS pump to get get it off, or does it and the bracket come off as a unit? The Haynes manual just says that on "some" models after 2000 the pulley has to come off first. Don't see how I'd get a puller in there. Just don't want to take a bunch of stuff off if I don't have too. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jw89sho]

IIRC, access is from the bottom. May have drop partially lower subframe also.

 

[prismatic]

Is it pretty much level with the crank? If so access should be easy through the wheel well, just remove the plastic insert.

 

[anthony_tn]

pretty sure it's an inch or two too high too access from the wheel well, but I'll check to make sure tomorrow. thanks!

 

[taurusrules]

you must drop the subframe to access it, no need to remove the compressor. Here are excellent step by step instructions:
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/82-...1191-tips-how-remove-c-compressor-clutch.html

 

[egiroux]

If the bolt came out, you may have lost the shim(s) that set the air gap. You need to measure it and make sure it is correct, or the clutch will self destruct (along with the pulley bearing) and you'll have an undriveable car and more work to do.

 

[gohim]

By removing the mounting bolts for the ac compressor, you'll be able to gain access to the front of the magnetic plate to replace the mounting bolt. But the problem of measuring and adjusting the magentic plate clearance can't be solved accurately while the compressor is still in the car. And you will probably need to order a set of shims from the Ford Dealer. They never have them instock. Last time I checked a set was like $25.

 

[anthony_tn]

thanks guys!!

 

[anthony_tn]

finally got the compressor off. I had planned to just put a new one on but the old one seems ok, other than the missing bolt. Can anyone tell me what size the bolt is? None of the parts places have anything like that listed, and the motorcraft catalog I looked at didn't either. The shim was still in there, but I'm going to buy a new set of shims to get the spacing right while it's off...just need to know what size bolt to use.