AC compressor pulley seizes intermittently

Discussion in 'Technical' started by mashori, Jul 28, 2007.

  1. mashori

    mashori Member

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    I searched and couldn't find a recommendation on how to fix the problem I have. My AC compressor pulley keeps getting stuck on the belt. So the belt of course keeps on going and it makes this loud annoying screeching noise. It does it intermittently. Is there anything I can do to fix it?
    I marked it in the picture below

    thanks
     

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    Last edited: Jul 28, 2007
  2. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    check the freon pressure. If you have too much in there, it will be difficult for the belt to get the compressor to start to spin. It may start spinning after a while, or it may just lock up and keep slipping.
     
  3. mashori

    mashori Member

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    I'll definetly check the pressure when I get home but what if it's not that? Any other suggestions?
     
  4. scott

    scott Member

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    take a garden hose and blast the uhhh poop out of the radiator from the inside of the engine compartment. the idea is to clean what might be clogging up your condensor. (that thing that looks like a radiator but belongs to the a/c system.) If there is a bunch of junk in there, it may not be taking enough heat away which increases refrigerant pressures which may be making the thing hard to start.
     
  5. Slantsickness

    Slantsickness Member

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    Also check the clutch. I've had a few bad ones, just make sure its actually the belts slipping, not the clutch
     
  6. mashori

    mashori Member

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    how do I check the clutch?
    basically when I turn on AC the pully starts engaging and spins but then at random intervals it stops spinning as if the pully is still engaged but won't spin. When that happens the belt keeps spinning while the pully is stuck and then it starts screeching.
     
  7. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

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    Hot wire it independently from the system.I believe it is just one wire? cant remember. Just un plug it and ground it to the battery,(I think the wire off the compressor is a ground) with the car running and see if it engages and disengages on command.If it does its probably fine.The problem could be the compressor siezing up internally or the pully bearing siezing.As scooper said, pressure could be the culprit also.The system should have oil in it as well if the compressor doesnt have oil in it independently of the rest of the system.
     
  8. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

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    You say when you crank it the pulley turns, then it stops and locks up? Which is turning, the outside pulley or the whole unit? If it is just the outside turning, and then locks up when the inside engauges, your compressor is probably locked up. Crank it up, disconnect the wire running to the clutch, and hook it to the positive + side of the battery. If it only locks up and slips the belts when you have current on it, It's more than likely the compresssor. With the engine OFF, hook the wire to the battery again, and try to turn the compressor by hand, may need to loosen the belts , it should turn easily, feeling the compression of the piston. Have you added freon lately? Too much freon in the system can lock it up. If not, the compressor has probably seen better days, they wear out in time like everything else....
     

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