Well hello everyone!
long story short, my ac went out last summer. Started with intermediate clutch engagement. would turn on and off randomly.
Few days later started to hear terrible grinding noise coming from my compressor. Noise was there for few minutes then gone then back and gone again...
wasnt untill few days later when noise got really bad and would not go away!
Got my buddy to look at it, turns out the whole clutch and pulley assembly collapsed and well, pulley was grinding on the hub and against the belt. we cut the belt and that was the end of it.... until now.
Well since its getting hotter, i was looking to get it fixed. You guys know how it goes, everyone tells you "u need a new compressor".
Okay seriously? new compressor is 400 bucks!!! found a rebuilt one on ebay for 200 bucks with shipping... still thtas too much.
Well i decided to use my inner mechanic skills and se if i can fix it on my own!
Well it turns out... if i cut the belt right away when noise started to happen, i wouldve been able to fix it for about 15 bucks!!! YES 15 bucks!
Okay so here it goes:
It seems its a known issue.... after a while actual bearing in the pulley collapses and starts to grind.
Yes, you can take the pulley assembly off along with the clutch, clean it all off, replace the bearing with a new one (15 bucks). And put it back together, keeping in mind the spacing between the pressure plate and the pulley.
!!!!!
NO NEED TO BUY A NEW COMPRESSOR! NO NEED TO TAKE THE COMPRESSOR OFF AND DEPRESSURIZE YOUR SYSTEM!
in my case i let my pulley grind too much which ended up literally MELTING my magnetic clutch and seizing it with the pulley.
Ended up prying the whole thing for hours before i got the pulley and clutch out (both in one piece melted together).
Afterwards i tested the compressor by spinning it slowly with my drill and listening for vacumm sounds and weird noises (all good!).
Ended up ordering new clutch/pulley/plate assembly off ebay which was 130bucks.... i know.. plus ill need a new belt BUT HEY ITS BETTER THAN 500 bucks for new one plus flush and labour!
wish i looked under my car last year and just cut the belt sooner.... wouldve been just the bearing back then.
Well...
It looks that it should work once i get the part next week!.
If requested i can post pics along the replacement process!