Chassis A/C clutch bad ?

[psyflyjohn]

As I'm headed north from San Diego to Idaho, the A/C clutch on the engine started being noisy, indicating a clutch bearing is going bad. A/C still works, and as a matter of fact, the noise stops when on. I'll have to wait for a week for repairs, or can I proceed north with it being noisy? Can it sieze-up and affect the serpentine belt operation?

[psyflyjohn]

As I'm headed north from San Diego to Idaho, the A/C clutch on the engine started being noisy, indicating a clutch bearing is going bad. A/C still works, and as a matter of fact, the noise stops when on. I'll have to wait for a week for repairs, or can I proceed north with it being noisy? Can it sieze-up and affect the serpentine belt operation?

[Redlands Truck and RV]

Bring it by on your way, we'll take care of it while you wait. We will inspect the tensioner and idler first and go from there.

Thanks,

[John-D]

Can it sieze-up.. Well, ... there is good news and there is bad news:

First the bad news: Yes, it can

Now the good news: if it does the AC will still work..... In fact you won't be able to shut it off since the bearing that is going out is the free-wheeling bearing that allows the clutch to run free

[psyflyjohn]

Thanks for the offer, Redlands. However, I'm in Salt Lake City currently. John-D .. if the bearing seized, would it just engage the A/C, or freeze and damage the serpentine?

[John-D]

Since it appears the faulty bearing is the one that lets the clutch run free, one of two things would happen

If it Seizes it will engage the compressor or "Spin" the bearing (Very noisy)


I would get it fixed though ASAP

[Mahlon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by psyflyjohn:
As I'm headed north from San Diego to Idaho, the A/C clutch on the engine started being noisy, indicating a clutch bearing is going bad. A/C still works, and as a matter of fact, the noise stops when on. I'll have to wait for a week for repairs, or can I proceed north with it being noisy? Can it sieze-up and affect the serpentine belt operation? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Three words: OH **** YEAH! A seized AC compressor pulley bearing will stop that big ole' 8.1L dead in its tracks and take the belt with it and put a big hurtin' on the belt tensioner. I know this 'cause that's what happened to me.

Get the bearing replaced. NOW.

[psyflyjohn]

A follow-up on my A/C problem:
Yes, the mechanic confirmed that the clutch was bad.
No, a repair kit was not produced.
Yes, the entire compressor needed to be replaced instead to the tune of $900.
GM got me on this one.

[scoutmstr]

PSYFLYJOHN I'm unclear on yout post. Did your mechanic sell you a complete A/C compressor with the clutch because the clutch was bad? Or was the A/C compressor bad and needed to e replaced?

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by psyflyjohn:
GM got me on this one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>psyflyjohn, What's your year make and model? It's always best to provide as much info for the readers as possible so we can give you better incite as to how to proceed with your situation.

[Mahlon]

Why couldn't they just replace the pulley bearing?

[psyflyjohn]

Sorry, should have given you more info. It's a 2004 Sea Breeze with an 8.1 engine. The mechanic is highly regarded. He initially thought that the clutch bearing could be replaced. As he talked with the suppliers in the area, he found out that kits for replacement of the clutch section are not made. This is a compressor made by Delphi for the GM/Workhorse engine. The supplier wasn't even interested in the old compressor/clutch assembly for rebuild. What a waste !

I'm taking the old assembly back to San Diego, where possibly I can find a machine shop who would be willing to take a stab at replacing the bearing.

[Mahlon]

That's what I thought. Typical of today's auto repair approach.

Back in the days of yore, you could totally rebuild a Frigidaire auto a/c compressor. All parts were available. But you needed an enormous investment in special tools to do it.

That's probably the rub here... you likely need special tools to replace the pulley bearing that don't exist in The Field or, at least, are not worth owning by the mechanics.

But at least you weren't stranded by the side of the road in beautiful downtown Gallup, NM like I was when my bearing seized up. Count your blessings.

[mrschwarz]

Back in the old days, a compressor weighed 35-40 lbs. Newer compressors weigh 10-15 lbs. A lot of time, pressing the bearing out of the pulley winds up distorting it. Everything is so light weight, rebuilding becomes a problem.

If you bought a rebuilt, the dealer may or may not have wanted the core. If you bought a new compressor, most likely he had no use for the core because his supplier didn't want it. It will still have value to someone else, though.