Troubleshooting My Broken Belt

hey, great story.
The moral there is fix the problem not the symptom, the fault finding isn't finished until you've found the root cause.
Of course the probable villain of the piece is the mechanic who seems to have done a half arsed job.
It's experiences like these which get us thinking methodically and logically about stuff.

Del
_{(I knew my belt broke when my trousers fell down)}

Hello jaxy:

Don't worry about the winter, it is totally other parts of you A/C wich will be working during it: A radiator-like heater located under your dashboard, thru which flows the antifreeze; a little turbine forcing air thru this heater, and a couple of Jaxy controlled air vents on the dashboard, one for defogging the winshield, the other for your confort, and you can adjust them in any combination (as you surely do when required).

About the compressor, it's very likely to be stuck and will need replacement, but that can wait for you to save some money, just don't connect it again; by the way, what a long drive to your job ! I hope it pays for the gas and your time ! OR I hope you enjoy it very much.

Yahlasit

I'm working 12 Hr. shifts but have 3 day weekends only theoretically (hell, it's tirening !).

O.K. Jaxy, whatever you do, don't turn on the compressor by any means before it gets serviced (more likely replaced).

Have a good one !

Yahlasit

Just fyi, it's a good idea to run the a/c for 10 minutes or so every few weeks even during winter. This keeps the freon (or whatever they use now) seals from drying out and cracking.

Hope you can still roll your windows down.

Put a toggle switch in series with the relay.

Talk to an a/c engineer, it may just be a failed clutch in the compressor. Depending on the model this may be repairable at a much lower cost than replacing the whole unit.

It could just be the compressor clutch. These are usually replacable units separate from the compressor itself. Also, is the car worth the effort and $ for the repair? Oh and you should replace the belt that was partly melted by the compressor. They are cheap enough that you should always use a new one after they become suspect. Especially with a 40 mile drive to work. (me too)

The problem with it just being the compressor clutch or just being a component of the compressor is that both my father and I aren't comfortable trying to mess with it anymore than we already have. If we bring it to an auto shop, OF COURSE we are going to need a whole new compressor unit installed yadda yadda yadda... Sometimes I just don't trust them. It would be worth the cost of the repair, but I am hesitant. This is why I am sitting on a decision until I feel I need a/c.

Don't worry, the belt that was partly melted was the old one before my father changed the belts. This way if the belt broke again during 'testing,' we wouldn't have to buy another new belt. I put the new one on before driving.

It sounds like you need a new mechanic. One who is competant and honest. Hard to find I know. That will actually be the hardest part of the repair! And if the compressor or clutch seizes for good you could probably buy a belt for your model vehicle without AC and bypass the compressor completly until you have the problem fixed. Replacing the compressor and recharging the AC system is really not that big of a job for a shop. The most expensive aspect of it will be the parts. Good luck.

The air compressor will turn freely until power is applied to the magnetic clutch then when you start the car and get current the clutch will engage and if the compressor is seized you will get this condition. Should be the only variable at this time. I do not feel that running the compressor 10% is good for it or your gasoline costs.

impress with how you handled the issues so far........exept the bandaid issue. (which is the issue) but you live and learn.....If you and your dad is handy try a rebuilt or salvaged A/C unit. You'll have to recharge it....freon and tools would be about 100.00 but recharging and handling the gas is not for the novice.......p911

You can get DIY recharging kits, I've used this one after changing a compressor & it worked OK. I got this in a ½ price offer otherwise it would have been cheaper to let the garage do it.

I bought the refrigerant fo jc whitney. The vacuum compress and recharging unit from harbor freight all total under 75.00 but jaxy just posted she at the limit of the work they are willing to on their own.......but still there are rebuilt units that are cheaper I'm sure.........p911

this a A/C manifold-gauge was on sale for $29.99 plus a 20% discount and this vacuum pump I used for purging the system @ $59.99 plus a 20% discount.

I think I also bought a gauge also which was around $10.00 ...but some of the HF gauges I question the accuracy. That was last spring and the A/C works great ever since.

p911

my dear

please see another autoshop to carefully check your car problem and avoid going back to that mechanic who is unsure. It may cause your life.

belts mostly get damage when not properly installed (misaligned), touching or scratching something, and the driven get stock or not properly fixed (loss pulleys, loss basebolt).

You might want to just disable the clutch and live with "poor mans AC" (roll the windows down!)

I bought a car with similar problem (for $35.00 - with $500 worth of new tires!) of course, the compressor was siezed.

We were extremely low on funds, and I was not sure if engine had been damaged by subsequent overheating, as the water pump was driven by same belt....

I disassembled the compressor clutch, and replaced a bearing damaged by the carnage due to seizure - By the way, the bearing was from Chrysler, the damaged AC was in a Ford... a used bearing no less!!!

The kids had to eat, man!

Without the Clutch coil or pressure plate installed, the compressor pulley had become an idler, allowing the belt to travel sucessfully.

I elected to NOT fix AC (see "low funds" above) but the car ran great.

I remember many trips, 8 hours each way, Pulling a 5000-6000Lb camping trailer (a gift from mom-in-law) up and down the east coast during the hottest summer days.

Home made trailer hitch, (all the hitch guys said the trailer was too big for the car, car was rated for 2500 lbs or so - my wife suggested I stop being so negative... what a woman!)

What did I know? as soon as I heard "can't be done", I knew I had to do it, plus camping site was already reserved!

Great camping trips on the Maryland shore, Site rental cost more than tow vehicle and camper combined.

Some people would say we were poor, but man, I never felt so Rich, or lucky!

Bravo Tony "Old Tech"! Perfect answer from a man who obviously knows his stuff.

Modern A/C diagnostic tools include a UV dye in the lube oil and super sensitive sniffers that can detect refrigerant leaks at remarkably low levels.

The first tells you there is a leak in the general area; the second helps you find it.

A properly repaired A/C system will also require a new receiver-dryer. Failure to replace that unit too will usually void any warranty on the compressor.

Prior to charging, the system needs to be pumped down with a vacuum pump and thus purged of any air and moisture that may have entered the lines. The protective relay is deliberately defeated by a trained A/C mechanic to allow this process. Ditto too recharging the system. If the system has lost refrigerant, the same protective relay must be defeated so the compressor is running when the charge is applied.

Judging from your comments, it appears that the system was simply loosing refrigerant. It appears it only needed for the leak to be fixed and the system recharged.

Everything else was unecessary and caused consequential damage that could have been avoided.

L.J.

not sure if this will work but you can relieve some gas out if it is 134a it wont damage the ozone and get a can of oil with conditioner in it and put it in you wont have to let out much because only a little is added when you put the oil in. It took some time but it work on my Mitsubishi Montero .

Did we really need the orange arrow?

Ah that's where it went, I'm always loosing my arrows.
I shot an arrow in the air,
It fell to earth I know not where,
I loose all my damn arrows that way

Del

I know the feeling. I seem to be loosing my marbles.

It sounds like your problems are at least temporarily solved, since I am unaware of how the mechanic jury rigged your system, it might be prudent to take one more precaution. Since AC compressor runs during the defrost cycle you might want to consider removing the power lead from the AC clutch. This will ensure that it cannot be activated the first time you use the defroster, no use having another smoke test.

The other advice you've received about a new dryer and flushing the system is quite appropriate. Whatever you do if you decide to have the AC repaired make sure you take it to a competent repair shop. The new refrigerant oils have an affinity for holding on to moisture, to the point they will not release moisture trapped in the oil even under a deep vacuum. A thoroughly clean and dry system with a good dryer is a must. I've witnessed multiple failures on refits where the serviceman was unfamiliar with the the newer refrigerants and oils.

Jaxy,

Sorry to hear about your A/C problems, I had to go through the whole routine myself this past spring. It turned out to be a bad compressor which was readily available online. I had a good mechanic put it on and service the A/C system as part of the work.

Keep in mind that if you absolutely have to, you might be able to get a bypass pulley from one of these sources:

http://www.partspros.com/a-c-bypass-pulleys.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5930030_replace-pontiac-sunfire-chevy-cavalier.html

There are lots more, these are just two examples. Basically, this is an absolute last-ditch desperation ploy because the A/C compressor (and system) is pretty much written off as a lost cause and the goal is to simply get the car back on the road. I don't think you're there yet, this is just another option to consider.

Good luck with it,

Logan

I think you also need to remember that before you damaged your compressor, you had a leak. The leak may not have been the compressor. So after the compressor, dryer,and expansion device are replaced, you may still have a leak. It may not be possible to find it until the other components have been replaced. Good luck.

I appreciate the concern which is been rose.This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
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johndouglas