Hello,

I have a 2000 Ranger with the 2.5L motor. It has 152K miles. I believe the timing belt is still original. I'm planning out the replacement job. The official Ford Service manual states that the AC refrigerant must be recovered, and the compressor/power steering bracket removed so that the timing cover can come off. For those of you who have replaced your own timing belts is there a work-around so that I don't have to open up the AC system?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Don Verbeck

 

I have not done mine but everything I've read is you need to remove the Freon and remove the compressor lines and compressor. It's a pretty bad design!!