HELP!! I'm stuck in Seattle

[Phantom5.0]

Hey guys- I need some quick help. On my drive over here- the AC got warm. I thought it may have shut off because I was climbing a grade. So I shut it off for awhile. Now when I start it there is a rattle coming from the clutch area of the compressor- if I let it run for a few minutes or drive it- it gets hot and a little smoke will come out of the clutch. Now here is my quandry- if I turn the AC ON- cool air will blow and the clutch seems to be okay. So is my compressor OK and I just need the clutch, or is the compressor shot and the clutch is just confusing me??
Thanks for any advice!!

P5-

oh- I have a '00 Ltd 5.0.

 

[Phantom5.0]

I just tried unplugging the power to the clutch. Same problem. Makes a sound like a bad bearing. Should I just replace the clutch?

 

[Ray Lobato]

Yup, the clutch is bad. If it was your compressor, you wouldn't be getting cool air.

 

[marragtop]

If you have a long way to drive back, you might want to consider putting a non AC belt on to bypass the compressor to keep from throwing the belt.

 

[Phantom5.0]

Hadn't thought of bypassing the compressor. Thanks for that!

I think I'll trying finding a clutch unit. Any tricks or tips to putting it on?

Thanks again for all the help!

P5