Air conditioner made noise and suddenly stopped working

CAR SADNESS

MEMBER
1997 MERCURY VILLAGER
3.3L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
178,000 MILES

While driving on the freeway I turned on my air conditioning. It was working fine. Traffic was stop and go so I turned it off briefly. Once traffic picked up I turned it back on. Suddenly, before it even came on there was a loud high pitched screeching sound lasting a few seconds so I turned it off.

I turned it on again later while driving and it made a high pitched sound very very briefly then nothing. I do not think the compressor is coming on because in this car when the A/C is on it makes a very distinct engine noise.

My car is old and not worth much on the used car market. But it runs well and has good tires and regular oil changes and tune-ups.

Wondering if it is worth trying to get this fixed? I do not have a lot of money to buy another car.

Thanks

7 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning.

It sounds like the AC compressor. it may have locked up.

If that is the case, the compressor, dryer and expansion valve should be replaced.

Did you check to see if the compressor is engaging?

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-air-conditioner-compressor

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

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Sunday, June 17th, 2018 AT 9:53 AM

CAR SADNESS

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thanks Roy.

Today a friend of mine looked under the hood and we found a broken belt. It probably melted and broke when the compressor "locked" as you said. I suppose locked is just another way to say the compressor stopped working or broke?

So after we found the broken belt we did not really do any more inspecting. I do not know how to tell if the compressor is engaging. Would that make a difference?

Do you have any idea how much this type of repair would cost if I had to replace the compressor, dryer and expansion valve?

Thanks so much for your quick and helpful response.

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Sunday, June 17th, 2018 AT 10:19 PM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Okay, see if you can reach down and turn the compressor by hand. If you cannot, then the compressor is the issue.

A rough estimate would be around $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 for the repair.

You could also bypass the compressor if you want to eliminate it. You would need to remove the compressor and install a bypass pulley that you can get at a parts store and then use the original belt. That would still cost $200.00 to $300.00 to get the car back in operation.

Roy

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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 1:26 AM

CAR SADNESS

MEMBER
4 POSTS

You mean I should not be driving the car? It runs fine. I have driven it everyday since this happened last Wednesday, about five hundred miles including on the highway, with no issues or problems. It seemed like the belt that broke was independent of any other belts.
Thanks

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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 8:48 AM

ASEMASTER6371