'94 AC clutch shot...easy replacement?

[magz]

Hey guys-

Longtime reader/lurker here with a quick question. In Nov. I was driving to CO and when I hit the defrost on high, my engine started smoking. Pulled over and saw that my serpentine belt was fried and my AC clutch seemed to be stuck. Wouldn't rotate at all, so the belt was going around it and breaking apart.

For a quick fix for the winter, the local mechanic (in Dillon, CO of all places) cut the belt and installed a smaller bypass belt that left the AC compressor/clutch alone.

Anyways, I've done some searching on the forum and would like to fix my AC if at all possible. I know that dealing with the entire compressor can be a bit more tricky and technical than I'd care for. However, I think it's just the clutch that was fried...if that's the case, is it still worth while for me to try to install a new clutch? It's only $75 from AutoZone (plus a new serp. belt), and I'd prefer to go the cheap route since going to an AC shop will set me back a LOT more money than that.

What are your thoughts? Sounds like this isn't an extremely rare problem, so input is more than appreciated! Thanks guys.

 

[Glacier991]

You are making an assumption... that it is your clutch that has failed. The biggest chance is that your compressor has seized. A failed clutch makes nasty bearing noises, a locked up clutch will try and turn a compressor - and deforst will run the AC compressor on the Explorer! If your compressor is locked up, the clutch obviously is not gonna turn it and you will get your result.With defrost on the compressor clutch would try and lock up and turn the AC. While I guess a clutch can fail as you decribe, whenever I've heard your description it is the compressor that has seized. Unplug the connector on top of the clutch assembly. Now that we are 100% sure the the clutch is no longer energized, can you rotate it easily? If not, maybe you ARE right, but if so, it's the compressor. Just on a hunch though, I think you are going to find you have a case of the black death on your hands. Sorry. Let me know. I can walk you through a clutch replace if need be, and Autozone will loan you the tools.