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A/C connection to serpentine belt

Tiny
THERESA BROCHTRUP CAREY
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 5.2L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,000 MILES
Literally just bought a beautiful vehicle listed above in perfect condition, well cared for. On the way home (chilly winter evening), thought I would test the A/C as it was the one thing we did not check before signing the deal. It blew cool but not icy cold, just cool, felt like it needed recharging. Half hour or so later, the serpentine belt snapped, lost power steering and had to coast into a rural town bar, closest thing in sight. Steam spewing, lost some fluids, hoping there is not more damage but wondering if the A/C compressor has a connection to the serpentine belt and if the A/C was out if that could cause the belt to snap.
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Friday, March 2nd, 2018 AT 11:20 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
The belt drive the AC compressor. It is possible the belt had not been replaced and the extra load of the compressor was enough to snap it. It is also possible that the compressor locked up internally and that snapped the belt. Not hard to test that if you can reach the compressor. Try to turn the belt pulley and then the center hub of the compressor. They should both turn freely. Check the other items the belt drives as well. Idler pulleys, alternator, power steering pump, even the water pump. If any of them stop it will cause heat and tension that can snap the belt.
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 AT 3:48 AM
Tiny
THERESA BROCHTRUP CAREY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for your quick response. My other question is if it was the A/C compressor, can I go ahead and replace the serpentine belt and then drive the vehicle to get it to my mechanic? Or once the A/C compressor goes out is it not drive-able until the compressor is replaced? I agree it sounds like the compressor, I would like to replace the serpentine belt and drive it to my mechanic.

Is the A/C compressor going to be a problem and if so, is there a way for me to bypass the problem to be able to drive it the fifty miles or so to my mechanic? As it appears the fluid leaking was probably power steering fluid, if it was power steering fluid, is adding more fluid a solution or will it need to be replaced? I am thinking the power steering pulley might be the indicator of whether it need replacing or not.

Also, concerned about the water pump. I saw no indication it was overheating other than steam spewing once we stopped the car but the temperature gauge was normal but seconds before stopping the vehicle the "check gauges" light came on. All told this entire situation played out over just a matter of minutes. Is it safe to drive the vehicle?I am concerned as to whether or not the water pump is damaged and how to assess the damage to the air compressor, power steering pump and water pump, if any. Is there a way that I can tell before attempting to drive the vehicle? Any other pointers before attempting to replace the belt and drive it? Thanks again.
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
Does sound like the compressor, when you turned it on it might have frozen up. Look at the belt to see if it broke or had burnt through. That would tell you the problem whether it was bad or the pulley bad. Just my thought.
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
THERESA BROCHTRUP CAREY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks. The serpentine belt had snapped. I am heading back this morning to check the pulleys.
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
If the AC compressor itself has locked up it will depend on which part has failed. There is the pulley itself that is driven by the belt and rides on a bearing and should spin freely if the AC is not on (items with red dots in picture). If that piece still spins freely replacing the belt and driving it to a shop should be fine.

The part with the green dots is the clutch plate. It gets pulled back into the pulley when the AC is turned on or if you use the defrost setting, when that happens it spins with the pulley and actually turns the AC compressor itself. It is turned on by a wiring connector near it with a simple two wire connection you see in the picture.
If you try to turn that part (green dots) and it does not move the compressor is bad. That can be expensive but it is repairable.

If the red dotted part turns free and with no noise you can disconnect the clutch wiring just to be sure the green clutch does not turn on until you get it fixed.
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Sunday, March 4th, 2018 AT 12:26 AM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
Easy way is with the belt off see if the A/C compressor pulley turns. If it does then you could put the belt back on and drive the car. There is a two wire clip in the back of the A/C compressor. Disconnect it put it out of the way of any other moving parts. I had done one and just put tape over the electrical end and zip tie it to another wire. I do this on a couple of our cars. During the winter. Because when you turn the defrost on the A/C compressor engages so to help take out moisture off the windows. That way you can drive the car a usual until you can have the compressor checked out.
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Sunday, March 4th, 2018 AT 6:39 AM

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