A/C Comp Frozen and Smoking

[markaz]

1992 4.0L. I'm am your least mechanically inclined person on this board, but I'll do some repair work if it's manageable. I've got to start here due to some tight $$.

About a week ago after shutting down the engine I noticed a fairly strong smell that was not burning oil or anything I recognized. This morning I tried to start it up and it just turned over three or four times and the battery was dead. Tried to jump to no avail. Just for grins I hooked up a trickle charger I have and it immediately started taking a charge. After only 6 hours (1.5 amp charger) it indicated it was charged. I hooked it back up after after a couple of sluggish cranks it started. But immediately I notice smoke literally billowing from the engine...jumped out and saw the smoke coming from INSIDE the A/C Comp. The clutch was frozen and gave me a fairly bad burn when I touched it. Real smart.

A couple of questions: 1) Does anyone think it's just coincidence that the A/C Comp was apparently bad and the battery discharged? I would think that would be an alternator issue. As I said, I'm less than novice. 2) Can I just purchase a shorter serpentine belt and leave the A/C Com installed or do I need to remove the A/C Com and install a by-pass pulley? There appears to be ample clearance for the belt to pass underneath the A/C Com pulley.
Just an FYI: There's a sticker in front of the engine that shows the proper installation for the belt and on it it has two configurations...One with the belt passing over the A/C Com pulley and one with the belt passing under the A/C pulley to the P/S pulley.

Any kind of advice would be greatly appreciated. And I apologize for the lengthy message.

 

[cgbier]

Yes, you can use a shorter belt. I doubt you'll miss A/C for the next couple of weeks.

Have you generator tested, but it is also possible that your battery is too old to hold a charge at low temperatures.

 

[cgbier]

And don't try to fool around on your A/C system. The fluid is not very healthy.

 

[markaz]

Thanks so much for the reply. I should have stated that I haven't used the A/C in probably 3 years even though I live in Arizona. The battery is approx 18 months old and usu don't do well down here...so you're probably right. Thanks again.

 

[Maniak]

Yes, you can use a shorter belt. I doubt you'll miss A/C for the next couple of weeks.

Have you generator tested, but it is also possible that your battery is too old to hold a charge at low temperatures.

It'll be 80F this week.. We just used the A/C at the house yesterday... (Also in Az)..

And batteries don't last very long in Southern Az. The average is about 3 years, and that is if you keep up the water in them. If you just install it and forget it, You will be lucky to get 2 years out here.

~Mark

 

[Jason94sport]

Shorter belt for non ac trucks & use that routing.
FYI. You will need to replace everything if you want AC again. Compressor, accumulator, all the lines, condenser, & evaporator(although a really good flush of it should work). 134A parts.

 

[Maniak]

FYI. You will need to replace everything if you want AC again. Compressor, accumulator, all the lines, condenser, & evaporator(although a really good flush of it should work). 134A parts.

This ^^ AND the only part of replacing the parts that I could consider a pain is the evaporator which is the part under the dash. The rest of the parts come out easily.

This is assuming the system is empty now (no pressure).

~Mark

 

[CTroxtell]

And don't try to fool around on your A/C system. The fluid is not very healthy.

+1 Refrigerant is heavier than air, get it in your lungs and it takes the space of the air you breathe and you can suffocate.

 

[markaz]

Shorter belt for non ac trucks & use that routing.
FYI. You will need to replace everything if you want AC again. Compressor, accumulator, all the lines, condenser, & evaporator(although a really good flush of it should work). 134A parts.

There is a far greater chance that I will become the pope before anything on the A/C is replaced. Until now this 22 year old has vehicle never given me a problem. Simple fluids check/change/replenishment, one new battery in the 7 years I've had it and your basic pads/rotors is all I've ever done. That said 3 of the 4 automatic windows just recently went MIA but I'll take it somewhere to have that done. Without A/C the driver's window just became high priority.

 

[cgbier]

The windows are easy to fix. There's even a sticky for the repair.

 

[markaz]

The windows are easy to fix. There's even a sticky for the repair.

Thanks. I found the sticky for replacing the bushings and I'll have to think about that one. A lot of jobs are easier than I make them out to be, but my right hand is literally useless after an injury 12 years ago. Can't really use my fingers for anything other than for lifting things. Not complaining but some things that require a lot of manual dexterity I shy away from. Heck, even changing out the serpentine belt will take me 2x-3x times longer than normal but what the he**.

 

[markaz]

Replaced the serpentine belt 2 days ago with the shorter belt thus bypassing the A/C Comp. Hooked everything back up and it starts and runs great...with one slight problem. The absolute last thing I was doing was reattaching the shield on the upper end and was placing the last screw when it popped out of my hand and dropped. I've been over every accessible nook and cranny with a hi-intensity LED and no luck. Anybody know any "tricks" for finding a missing nut or screw? I know the general area where it dropped but.......

 

[cgbier]

A magnet on a bendable stick.

Sorry for your hand. I'm in a similar situation...

 

[markaz]

A magnet on a bendable stick.

Sorry for your hand. I'm in a similar situation...

Maybe if I used a weak enough of one? Otherwise I'd be 'sticking' to the block and all the other metal where I believe it dropped....I think. Sorry to hear about your hand as well. Sounds like you've adapted well. Thanks again.