A/C Clutch Issue

[Justin Fleming]

So I turned on the A/C for the first time this year while going through the car wash and things were well, but after a little while going down the road all of a sudden the vents were blowing smoke that smelled like an electrical fire. So I hurred up and pulled over,poped the hood and all the smoke was coming from the A/C clutch. Is this normal for these to burn up? I have never burned one up before.

thanks

 

[Blue85]

I would guess the compressor is seized and the clutch was staying engaged. It doesn't know any better - the pressure switch will provide current to the clutch coil as long as the low side pressure is high enough. It's possible you could just turn off the A/C and keep driving. If not, it might be the front bearing that clutch/pulley rides on that's seized and not the compressor. I've never had the clutch smoke but I'm sure it can't handle the torque of a seized up compressor. It's just a question of which has more grip - the belt or the clutch.

 

[Justin Fleming]

I would guess the compressor is seized and the clutch was staying engaged. It doesn't know any better - the pressure switch will provide current to the clutch coil as long as the low side pressure is high enough. It's possible you could just turn off the A/C and keep driving. If not, it might be the front bearing that clutch/pulley rides on that's seized and not the compressor. I've never had the clutch smoke but I'm sure it can't handle the torque of a seized up compressor. It's just a question of which has more grip - the belt or the clutch.

What I did was turn of A/C and I could continue to drive....That being said does that mean that the clutch was seized or the compressor? Not knowing exactly how it functions, I assumed the the compressor only tunred when the clutch was engaged, there for turning AC on the clutch engauges and thats when the troubles start.

Do I have that correct?

 

[blazer74]

Compressor is probably seized, causing clutch to slip. There is a slim chance the clutch is bad only but slim. See if you can turn the compressor by hand with engine off of course.

 

[AV8TER]

Compressor is probably seized, causing clutch to slip. There is a slim chance the clutch is bad only but slim. See if you can turn the compressor by hand with engine off of course.

I bet the clutch is bad now!! You could say it's smoked.

 

[blazer74]

I bet the clutch is bad now!! You could say it's smoked.

Yeah what I meant was it's not just the clutch being bad by itself. If the comp Is seized, clutch is going to be toast.