Air Conditioner Issues

[Redwingrobb]

About three weeks ago I was driving down the road when parts started dropping from my engine bay. Found that my air conditioner idler arm pulley (immediately to the left of the compressor wheel) disintegrated, throwing the belt into the fan, wrapping itself around it. Fast forward to today. I get a new idler arm and belt and install it. I turn on the A/C (far left switch) to "max" and click the far right "fan" switch to start blowing air. Immediately, the top of the front of the A/C unit in the engine bay starts sparking and starts making hideous noises. When I turn the fan off, the unit is quiet even though I have the far left switch still on "max" and the A/C pulley is still obviously turning. Seems like it only makes the noise when I put the load on it visa vie using the fan motor switch. Any ideas? (Please don't say new A/C...) Robb

 

[Mosesatm]

Robb, is it the original compressor or a newer one. If it's the original I'd say buy a newer compressor that is much more efficient and doesn't take nearly as much horsepower to operate.

 

[Redwingrobb]

I'd have to check to see whether or not it's new or not. When I did switch on the A/C today, no cold air blew. Right before my issue with the idler arm a few weeks back, the cold air blew like the Artic..Robb

 

[Redwingrobb]

The sparks are coming right behind the A/C wheel at the top of the unit...

 

[rvrtrash]

The compressor clutch comes on when the fan is on. It just freewheels normally. Sounds like your clutch is dead. You can check it by unhooking the single wire connector lying on top of the compressor and hooking 12V to the clutch side (engine off). If the clutch starts sparking or doesn't make a small "clunk" sound, it's bad. If everything works correctly, loosen the belt and try and turn the clutch pulley by hand while the power is still applied. The clutch pulley's are replaceable so all is not lost if it's dead.
Steve

 

[Redwingrobb]

The compressor clutch comes on when the fan is on. It just freewheels normally. Sounds like your clutch is dead. You can check it by unhooking the single wire connector lying on top of the compressor and hooking 12V to the clutch side (engine off). If the clutch starts sparking or doesn't make a small "clunk" sound, it's bad. If everything works correctly, loosen the belt and try and turn the clutch pulley by hand while the power is still applied. The clutch pulley's are replaceable so all is not lost if it's dead.
Steve

Thanks. I'll give it a shot..Robb