Whats the best/cheapest way to fix Air Conditioning? "Clutch assembly"

[B Feelgood]

I have a 94 grand am SE v6 with 60k... I plan on selling it as soon as I fix this problem so I am looking for the cheapest fix possible since I am not keeping the car... Just recently the car starting making a very loud metal grinding noise when the AC is turned off... Whenever I turn the AC on the noise completely goes away... I am pretty sure this is the "clutch assembly" on the air conditioning compressor... I called around to get quote on how much it is to fix it and was astounded at the price "$610 for a new compressor, and $400 to swap out the assembly on the old compressor and put in a new assembly"... Is there a way I could just disconnect the air conditioning compressor completely so the noise goes away, leaving me without air conditioning? or do I have to replace the clutch assembly to make the noise go away when the air is turned off? Like i said, I am looking for the cheapest fix because I am selling the car anyways... What are my options?

Thanks

PS: It still blows cold air when the AC is on?

[rixGAphx]

Sounds very much like the bearings within the clutch assembly.

No way to by-pass it, what with the serpentine belt and all.

But, since it blows cold air, you do NOT need a compressor, nor the labor and equipment necessary to disconnect the lines, purge/refill the refrigerant, etc.

I know the clutch is available over the counter from NAPA, and I *understnad* that it can be replaced with the compressor left in place.
I have no experience in doing this, nor do I have a link for the procedure.

Good luck.
-Rick

[B Feelgood]

Hmmm, that sounds like great news if that is true... Does anyone else care to verify this, or have anything to add? Maybe I can fix this for under $100?

[antoniobanderas]

wishfull tinking ,but hey ! if you a good mechanic ,why not? any savage yard will have it for around 50 bucks and you can even have tons of fun while doing it hu ?

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by B Feelgood
What are my options?
PS: It still blows cold air when the AC is on?

You could hard wire the A/C on and sell the car. I saw A/C compressor bearings on www.rockauto.com

[B Feelgood]

So whats the bottom line on this issue... Can I just replace the bearings/clutch assembly with the compressor on the car without evacuating the lines? Or do I goto a salvage yard and pull out an old compressor and get it put on?

[B Feelgood]

bump...

[HeyDace]

The grinding noise is not the clutch bearings, its the clutch plate. Very common in the GM compressors. The clutch plate springs get weak and the plate starts to rub the clutch pulley. There are two ways to fix this. One, if the plate isn't to far gone, pull it out away from the pulley enough where there is at least an .011 inch air gap (any more and the magnetic feild won't be able to pull it in). Two, replace the clutch plate. These can be had at local part stores for short money.
If you have accsess to a clutch plate puller tool, you can do it yourself. You may need to unbolt the compressor from the mounting bracket just enough to allow the use of the tool. No need for evacuating the system. On the car repair.

[saltystix]

I got my a/c clutch fixed... $218 including labor.

[sprucegoose]

Originally posted by HeyDace
The grinding noise is not the clutch bearings, its the clutch plate. Very common in the GM compressors. The clutch plate springs get weak and the plate starts to rub the clutch pulley. There are two ways to fix this. One, if the plate isn't to far gone, pull it out away from the pulley enough where there is at least an .011 inch air gap (any more and the magnetic feild won't be able to pull it in). Two, replace the clutch plate. These can be had at local part stores for short money.
If you have accsess to a clutch plate puller tool, you can do it yourself. You may need to unbolt the compressor from the mounting bracket just enough to allow the use of the tool. No need for evacuating the system. On the car repair.

I agree with HeyDance here. I did this myself on our 96 GA. Here is the link to that post...

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12763