So our 19 year old Disco II carried us all the way from Houston to Aspen CO and back, coping with sheet ice, 70 mph blizzards, 4 °F temperatures, 13,000 foot passes, etc. The heater wasn't working (!) but we managed. But the old girl finally said enough is enough on the way home and stranded us last night on the wrong side of Texas when the compressor froze up and the engine wouldn't restart.

So I'm going to replace the A/C compressor itself entirely (the A/C wasn't working anyway). That is easy enough as it sits right on top the engine.

While I'm at it I need to replace the main serpentine belt.

Questions:

Q1 - Is a belt change do-able on the driveway without special tools?

Q2 - Am I right in thinking the belt also drives the camshafts and if so I presume I need to be careful to mark the crank and camshaft positions before I remove the belt? Any other precautions or steps?

Q3 - Where is the tensioner and can I back it off to slip the old belt off / the new one on, using say a socket and a pry bar or is something else involved.

Q4 - What type of refrigerant do I need to use? I can buy a vacuum pump to purge / suck all the old refrigerant and air out before refilling.

Thanks.

2001 4.0 V8 with secondary air.

 

Q1, no special tools needed
Q2, no that motor has a timing chain no need to mark anything
Q3, passenger side half way down



Q4, R134a

 

Depending on how long your AC wasn't working, your dryer may need replaced. They are cheap ($15) and easy to put in. If you have an honest mechanic, just have him fill it. Its done right and you dont need to buy equipment.

 

Yep, The Belt is real easy to do, have a look.....
> https://www.roverparts.com/resources...e-discovery-2/

 

Thanks for the tip on the dryer, but finding an honest mechanic in H-town is like trying to find three wise men and a virgin in a brothel....
I'll be doing the work myself.

 

Thank you sir!

 

Life will be easier if you remove the fan, which requires a sort of special tool, but it comes off real easy and will give you full access to everything.

 

I've got my special tool right here :-)

 

Don't take off the fan. I could replace the belt blind drunk, in the dark, with my wife bitching at me. Use 2 wrenches. The box end of a 15 ( I think) on the tensioner. Use a bigger wrench as a cheater and hook it into the open groove at the top. Pry it back and pop the belt on.

 

Definitely doable without pulling fan. Not a hard job.