07 5.9 in the sig...

A/C hasn't worked since I owned the truck. Best I can tell it was the clutch coil issue. As I live in the frozen north, I never bothered to fix it. Tonight however, when I fired it up, there was a horrible belt squeal and the belt started to melt and fail.

I pulled the fan and shroud and sure enough, the A/c compressor is what is locked up.

I haven't read up on the clutch replacement procedure but I am curious wether a failed clutch would smoke a belt or if the entire compressor is needed. If it's just the clutch, I can handle that on my own in the driveway but a compressor will have to go to a shop with an A/C tech as I don't have the tools to do that job. i haven't paid to have someone work on my vehicles in almost 15years.....

Any advice?

TIA

 

Take the belt off. See if it spins free. These trucks do not have a low pressure cuttoff switch so when its out of refrigerant, the oil cannot circulate, but the compressor will run and self destruct. Using your defrost mode will bring in the ac compressor. It may have self destructed. The clutch should spin free with the truck off. If it does, then you know its the compressor. If you'll never use it, you can get a non ac belt and a picture of the routing and just run it like that.

 

You can buy a serp belt for non-ac engine and bypass the ac compressor. Since the compressor seized you need to make sure metal from compressor hasn't gotten into a/c system. The metal will plug up the orifice tube and will be expensive to repair. Many more parts will need to be replaced and the system flushed out. Draining the oil from compressor into a clean glass jar and holding a light under it will show if there is metal particles in the oil. If there is then the system will need to be flushed the receiver dryer, orifice tube and condenser replaced and the evaporator flushed. If you do not then the metal particles will cause the new compressor to fail and you will have the orifice tube plug up again. That's why it is best to take to a qualified repair station. Plus you will get a warranty with replacement compressor if it fails again. If the oil is clean and no metal is detected then you can just replace compressor and clutch assembly.

 

Thanks guys! The clutch/comp is locked up tight.

Non-A/C belt it is for the winter.....if I get too hot in the cab, I'll just took down a window.....

 

IIRC the non ac belt wont work and you have to get a specific belt to by pass the compressor. i just dont the part number or what belt it is.

 

Well, I picked up a non-A/C belt and will try it out in the AM. If it doesn't work I'll search around for a P/N that will work.....

 

This diagram is incorrectly labelled but should be correct:

 

You also have to move the tensioner assy. on the newer ones.

Here is an old thread describing moving the tensioner assy.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...bypass-321533/

 

Non-A/C belt and relocated tensioner assembly and I'm Back on the road. Seems weird to run the grooved sine of the belt on a smooth pulley but its working.....

Thanks again all!

Now to save my pennies to afford A/C work in the spring. Gonna kill me to have to pay someone else work on my truck. I haven't done that in 20 years......

 

"Gonna kill me to have to pay someone else work on my truck."


Then don't. You have plenty of time to learn up and get stuff and do it yourself. I did, and I do all my home and auto ac work. Replaced my inside house unit for $500. Did it all myself, including recharging it. Now the wife yells about it being too cold all the time.

Redid my entire '99 system. Again, the wife complained about it being too cold and used a blanket while riding with me --IN TEXAS-- --IN JULY--

 

I can do the work no problem. It's been a while but I remember most of it.....Spent 10 years as a mechanic working on heavy equip (CAT dealer) and as a dealer tech at the local Ferd shop. I've done plenty of A/C work I just don't have the recovery equipment accessible to me and don't intend to purchase it for a one time use kinda job. Being as I switched career fields 15 years ago, my contacts in the old one have kinda disappeared.....

I'll search around for a machine on CL and whatnot this winter or maybe I'll find someone who wants to earn a little side $$$.....

 

Just take it to a shop to have the system evacuated, do the work then take it back to the same shop and get your refrigerant put back in. That would be the least expensive option.