I think I have a blown AC comp. I "think" the reason that I've been popping belts is that the AC comp is seized up when turned on. It turns freely when off. The only other possibility is that the PS pump is seized but that would be pretty obvious, as there would be no power steering.

So, does my diagnosis sound coprrect? It seems obvious, but at the prices for a new AC comp, I want to be certain.
Thanks.

 

That's a failure mode I've not seen before. If thge pump isn't damaged you could (in theory just replace the AC clutch) never done it myself but I think it's an option?

Also..I'm thinking you could mark the pulley with white out, hook up a timing light and shine it on the AC pulley with the switch on and off to see if the pulley is moving. I don't know how practical that is but it's a thought.

 

Well, unless the pulleys are somehow out of alignment with one another, I can't think of anything else that would cause this.

 

You could try jumpering the AC to on and then turning the compressor wheel by hand to test your frozen theory.

 

I can start the car and turn it on, so I won't need to jumper it.

 

If it's throwing belts something is wrong. Normally if it's just low on freon it just won't cool and the AC clutch won't engage. (Everything would still spin as normal though.)
You would jumper it, to engage the ac clutch so that you can recharge the system.

That's what I meant by "failure mode I haven't seen." The belt throwing thing.

So I guess it goes without saying that the AC is not working?

 

No. It isn't. So far, and it's only happened twice. It throws the belt when I turn on the AC and accelerate hard. I can hear and feel the belts, both pop off and the alt light immediately comes on.

 

I have an after-market alt, so I'm also wondering if the pullies just don't quite line up right.

 

Aww, that's different! Can you get a straight edge up in there to check alignment?

It's starting to sound like a "it was running fine before I changed ... " (insert part here) issue!

 

I'm getting ready to do that right now. Just by eyeballing it, it looks off a bit.

 

Cool (No pun intended!)

Is it still R12 or substitute or did you convert to R134? Out here no one will touch an R12 system. I had my 944 NA recharged with Freeze 12 years ago but now they act like substitutes aren't around!

You can buy R12 on ebay still so as long as I don't have to open the system. I'll get the tools and recharge it myself.

If you have to open the system, then it would be a good time to convert to R134.

This is my Corolla ALLtarc but it's R12, just wondering how it is elsewhere?

 

it's 134. It was a Cali car. I found out the hard way when I got to L.A., from Florida, with my R12 refuill kit and found that it had been converted. That was July 3 years ago. What a fun drive across the country, in July! ;(

 

Ed had a problem with his compressor not turning right when the clutch was engaged. However, his belt would not jump off. It would just spin on the a/c pulley and occassionally spit off little flecks of rubber (like pepper) as the pulley chewed the belt up.

 

Also check your front mount bolt on the compressor (as well as your rear, but I see the fronts go more often). It is fairly common for them to break, maybe the extra load of putting it on causes the compressor to shift slightly and throw the belt. Usually it just destroys the belt and doesn't come off clean.

 

Well the good news is getting it refilled won't be an issue!