96 Voyager AC Compressor Bearings

[meporsche]

My AC is presently consuming itself. The bearing seal has apparently failed and I am making metal to metal contact. Since it is Oct, I wouldn't care but geniuses who designed serpentine belts dictate that I fix it.

My question is, can I just throw on a new clutch or do I have to replace the whole Compressor? Thanks, Darwin

[MT-2500]

You will need to remove it and see how much damage it has done.
If the end of compresser is good sometimes you can replace the bearing if the pulley part is all you want to work so the belt will run.
If you also want the air cond to work sometimes you can get a clutck kit with pulley and bearing and clutch if the front seal and compresser is good.
But sometimes the complete compresser is almost as cheap as clutch or bearing kit.
Look it over and see what is good and bad on your compresser.
MT-2500

[ssixs]

Originally Posted by meporsche

My AC is presently consuming itself. The bearing seal has apparently failed and I am making metal to metal contact. Since it is Oct, I wouldn't care but geniuses who designed serpentine belts dictate that I fix it.

My question is, can I just throw on a new clutch or do I have to replace the whole Compressor? Thanks, Darwin

Same problem just happened to may 97 Caravan. Clutch basically burned-up. I pulled the "melted clutch goo" off and ran it for a day or two (no AC of course) but I guess when the clutch was going the heat was so extreem that it burned off all the greese in the clutch pulley bearing causing the pulley bearing to fail. I priced a new clutch at advance auto for 99.00 and plan to install it this weekend. By the way, check your belt. If it got hot enough to melt down your clutch, your belt is most likely weakened also. I'll let you know how the clutch replacement goes

[meporsche]

I grabbed a used clutch/compressor ass'y from a boneyard in Ohio for $50. The removal/install took about an hour. Be sure and save the coolant when you remove the lower line to get at the bottom bolt that holds the comp. Not a bad job but I could have skipped it and kept the $50. I still have to add oil and recharge the system but at least I can drive it now. Good luck.

Darwin