questions about air conditioning
06-15-2003, 07:08 PM
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Burning Brakes
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questions about air conditioning
last summer i was driving around my car with the ac on. it had always made some noise when the ac turned on but one day it got bad all of a sudden and then stopped and smoke came out from under the hood. what i'm guessing happened is that the clutch failed and the belt was making the smoke.
is that is a possibility? do ac clutches make noise as their failing and then seize the pulley when they fail? also, is an ac clutch expensive? should i just get a new compressor? i see the rebuilt ones on ebay and was not sure if the clutch by itself is not worth it. i don't mind putting in the time to change a compressor and if it's only like $50 more to buy the whole compressor then i'd just go that route. i think if the clutch was to cost more than $100, i'd get the whole compressor (if that's even what the problem is)
is that is a possibility? do ac clutches make noise as their failing and then seize the pulley when they fail? also, is an ac clutch expensive? should i just get a new compressor? i see the rebuilt ones on ebay and was not sure if the clutch by itself is not worth it. i don't mind putting in the time to change a compressor and if it's only like $50 more to buy the whole compressor then i'd just go that route. i think if the clutch was to cost more than $100, i'd get the whole compressor (if that's even what the problem is)
06-15-2003, 07:56 PM
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Hey Andrew,
Sounds like the compressor is probably locked or slugged up. By slugged up I mean that due to inappropriate charging of the system the compressor may be trying to compress liquid - that leads to problems - kinda like when a car motor sucks in water by mistake - bang!
If the bearings were bad on the compressor pulley (seized the pulley), things would be messed all the time, so if its OK with the AC off that's probably not an issue. Usually a bad clutch just doesn't engage or will slip - its possible the slippage could cause your symptoms.
To check for a locked compressor, try to turn the front of the clutch by hand (car off of course!). You should be able to put your palm on the front of the compressor pulley and turn the armature (that is directly connected to the compressors internals, you can "feel" what's going on when the compressor rotates through your hand, if it rotates. Kind of hard to turn, but can be done.). If it is stuck, the compressor is probably locked/slugged.
944smitty
Sounds like the compressor is probably locked or slugged up. By slugged up I mean that due to inappropriate charging of the system the compressor may be trying to compress liquid - that leads to problems - kinda like when a car motor sucks in water by mistake - bang!
If the bearings were bad on the compressor pulley (seized the pulley), things would be messed all the time, so if its OK with the AC off that's probably not an issue. Usually a bad clutch just doesn't engage or will slip - its possible the slippage could cause your symptoms.
To check for a locked compressor, try to turn the front of the clutch by hand (car off of course!). You should be able to put your palm on the front of the compressor pulley and turn the armature (that is directly connected to the compressors internals, you can "feel" what's going on when the compressor rotates through your hand, if it rotates. Kind of hard to turn, but can be done.). If it is stuck, the compressor is probably locked/slugged.
944smitty
06-15-2003, 08:41 PM
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Burning Brakes
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thanks for the help smitty. when you suggested that i turn the front of the clutch by hand, did you mean that i should take the pulley off? also is this with the clutch engaged or disengaged(or is the clutch always disengaged with the car off)?
06-15-2003, 09:13 PM
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Andrew,
No need to remove the pulley, just attempt to turn the front part (armature) with the flat of your palm (red arrow). The clutch consists of the armature, the pulley, and a coil (see cut-away pic). When you turn on the AC, the coil is energized and it electromagnetically "sucks" the sprung outer part of the armature into contact with the pulley. When the coil isn't energized, there is an air gap between the armature and the pulley. Notice that the armature is bolted directly to the compressor shaft and that the pulley is free to turn on its bearing until you energize the coil.
If there's a bolt in the center of the armature, you could use a ratchet/socket to attempt to turn the compressor instead of your hand.
<img src="http://smitty1.home.insightbb.com/clutch.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://smitty1.home.insightbb.com/dks17d.gif" alt=" - " />
No need to remove the pulley, just attempt to turn the front part (armature) with the flat of your palm (red arrow). The clutch consists of the armature, the pulley, and a coil (see cut-away pic). When you turn on the AC, the coil is energized and it electromagnetically "sucks" the sprung outer part of the armature into contact with the pulley. When the coil isn't energized, there is an air gap between the armature and the pulley. Notice that the armature is bolted directly to the compressor shaft and that the pulley is free to turn on its bearing until you energize the coil.
If there's a bolt in the center of the armature, you could use a ratchet/socket to attempt to turn the compressor instead of your hand.
<img src="http://smitty1.home.insightbb.com/clutch.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://smitty1.home.insightbb.com/dks17d.gif" alt=" - " />