Clutch Plate Drag

I'm getting frustrated.

I am reading about a fix for this

here:

http://www.aircondition.com/wwwboard/2003Q1/10563.html

and here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=288995

But when I talk about it to local shops, they act like I'm a moron.

Perhaps I am :D, but no one is helping to clarify the fix on either forum.

Does anyone know anything about how to go about moving the clutch plate so the pulley does not rub on it?

Or could you explain it is such manner that I can print it and just hand it to a local mechanic?

Any time before hot weather would be nice. ;)

Thanks.

LeoP, I went to aircondition.com and read a large number of posts. It seems that the only problem is a clutch positioning adjustment that can be taken care of with the proper tool. It appears that the only people who have this tool are the dealers or someone that specializes in air conditioning. In reading the posts the common thread appears to be that a slight adjustment needs to be made and that is all. I would take the car to an air conditioning shop, explain the problem and see if they are willing to do what you suggest. There are no mechanics at dealerships anymore, there are only technicians. They can diagnose but if anything is out of the ordinary or simple to repair they only want to throw new parts at it and charge high labor and part prices. I don't know if this will help but if you can get someone to listen to your description and just try what you suggest to repair it you can probably save a great deal of money. Good Luck!

Your answer is appreciated.

However it describes everything I know and have done thusfar.

The dealer will only replace the compressor, or the parts on the pulley end, both $700-plus fixes, since those are the only GM-recommended fixes, and would thus be covered by warranty.

It is not that my service manager does not understand what I am saying, it's just that his hands are tied to the TSBs. Speaking of which, I reviewd the TSBs and nothing appears to refer to this problem, just several mentions of it on forums such as this..

Like I said, I am having a hard time finding someone to understand that I need a minor adjustment, to create the airspace between the clutch plate and pulley. When I explain it I believe the proper description of the mechanic's faces would be "glazed over." :D

I am willing to wait to save $700.

In the mean time we are running the little bugger without the compressor.

It happened again today.

I had the car in for an oil change at my regular quick-lube place. I was the only customer.

There were two guys looking under the hood and the guy down in the pit.

So I said, "What do you think of this?" and I turned the compressor pulley and you could hear it rubbing on the clutch plate. Without looking at it or touching it they all simultaneously said, "The bearings are shot."

I started talking about clutch plate drag and air space and Internet forums and all the stuff I've read here and on aircon.com and they just stood there looking at me like I was an old episode of the Twilight Zone, which is where I think I'm stuck.

I think you need to find a place with a better mechanic, or go to the dealer and talk to the mechanic instead of the service advisor

I was golfing with a mechanic friend and told him about this and he immediately said, "The idler pulley bearing has gone out." I sorta went off on him since he hadn't even looked at it.

It was quiet for awhile and then he said, "Yeah I have had to fix a lot of those. Sometimes you can loosen the screw on the shaft and then use a screwdriver between the clutch plate and pulley and get the clutch plate backed off a bit." He also said you could replace just the stuff on the end, the clutch plate stuff, without having to replace the whole compressor.

I had been running the short belt during the winter, so put the long belt back on, bringing the compressor back into the system. I used a screwdriver to bend on the clutch plate. I don't think the clutch plate actually moved, but it is not rubbing as bad now.

It's been two weeks now. The clutch plate does not grind at all , or at least not very often, and not loud enough so that we can hear it over all the other rattles in our Sunfire.

The AC works. I have not resorted to using the clutch puller tool referred to elsewhere. I have not given the dealer $800 to replace the compressor. We have not been stranded alongside the road.

It's been two weeks now. The clutch plate does not grind at all , or at least not very often, and not loud enough so that we can hear it over all the other rattles in our Sunfire.

The AC works. I have not resorted to using the clutch puller tool referred to elsewhere. I have not given the dealer $800 to replace the compressor. We have not been stranded alongside the road. quiters never win and winners never quit. i congratulate you on your apparent success!!