1997 Pontiac Grand Am HELP A/C Compressor wont stay on

LAOUIDA

MEMBER
1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
177,000 MILES

Hubby changed compressor on car, since then it keeps throwing the belt off. Pulleys have been checked, brackets, and everything else close to it has been checked. When the car starts the a/c compressor kicks (unit) out about 2 inchs and then belt comes off. Hubby has retapped and placed better grade of bolt in, but still breaks the bolts.

Is there something we are missing?

3 Replies

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

From what i'm reading, the compressor is locked up.
Try turning the hub (not the outer pulley the belt rides on) of the compressor by hand

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Thursday, April 16th, 2009 AT 9:09 PM

LAOUIDA

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The compressor is not locked up, the a/c works just fine. But after awhile the rear bolt is sheared into. Thats when the compressor turns cockeyed (not straight).

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Thursday, April 16th, 2009 AT 9:12 PM

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

Something major has to be going on for it to break a bolt.

What about too much oil in the system? When the excess oil hits the compressor, it hydrolocks and seizes the pulley. (I'm grasping right now)

If the belt runs true and stays on while the compressor is not engaged, then it has to be something going on INSIDE the compressor.

EDIT: I wanted to ad that i've had 2 compressors in a row be bad from a very expensive auto part store (i dont want to say any names)
but it can happen.

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Thursday, April 16th, 2009 AT 10:46 PM