Sorry. Did not finish. My mechanic says the bypass belt still runs pass the a/c pulley and he has to remove that pulley for the bypass belt to work. But that makes no sense to me; if it is a "bypass belt" why would it run right pass the A/C pulley which gets in the way? Makes no sense. Mechanics says getting the pulley off the compressor is a huge job and he doesn't want to do it. Cannot drive the car to another shop because of the seized pulley? Any recommendation?

 

My mechanic says the bypass belt still runs pass the a/c pulley and he has to remove that pulley for the bypass belt to work.

Used a laser pointer on my 99 Sienna and the shorter bypass belt should clear the AC compressor pulley but not by much. At worst you might have to grind a flat spot on the junk compressor pulley for more clearance. See for yourself.

Just one question. Is the pulley seized with the AC off? If it turns fine forget about bypassing just disable the clutch.

 

Here is the same issue involving the 1MZ-FE engine on a 1998 Toyota Camry. This response says the following bypass belt is available on the given website:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I found the Part Number
16361A BELT, V (FOR FAN AND ALTERNATOR)

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1998_TOYOTA_CAMRY_MCV20L-AEPNKA_1605.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Here is the same issue involving the 1MZ-FE engine on a 1998 Toyota Camry. This response says the following bypass belt is available on the given website:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I found the Part Number
16361A BELT, V (FOR FAN AND ALTERNATOR)

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1998_TOYOTA_CAMRY_MCV20L-AEPNKA_1605.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I looked on the given site and had trouble finding the part. The website said all part no's are 10 digit numbers (or it said 12 digit numbers, don't remember.)

 

The AC went out on my bros Civic and he bypassed it. Just a matter of finding the right length belt.
I might buy a belt and rehearse bypassing the AC just to avoid a $1200 repair just to get home. Let us know your final solution.
I definitely wouldn't junk the van. On my othe car it hasn't worked for 20 years.

 

Thanks to everyone for your honest and helpful responses. One thing I cannot understand is when someone from the garage took the Sienna out for a test drive, with the compressor clutch engaged, and, supposedly, the compressor seized up ( although they claim at first the compressor worked and cold air was coming out of the vents. So, then, supposedly, it seized up. The belt was running over a seized compressor and burning up. I am sure it was obvious to the driver that he should disengage the compressor clutch immediately, or stop the car, turn it off and wait for help to pull it back to the garage. Instead, he kept driving it back to the garage with the belt smoking and burning up. They destroyed the existing pulley and bearings (burnt them up). I don't know what they did to the other pulleys and tensioner and stuff like that. And what does it do to the engine when the crankshaft is trying to turn a belt passing over a frozen compressor. I would like to kill the people in the garage, or sue them in small claims court. The engine on that Sienna (205K miles) was running smooth as a baby.

Thank you all for your help. Reuben

 

what does it do to the engine when the crankshaft is trying to turn a belt passing over a frozen compressor.

Chill. Kin to harming a tire by running over a mouse

 

Let me get this straight: the ac compressor is seized such that even with no voltage going to the clutch it won't turn... Why wouldn't you just either replace the compressor with one from a parts place (that is if you need ac) or if you don't need ac get a used one from a junkyard, then replace the belt? I doubt if a seized compressor would do anything to the engine except ruin the belt.