A/c Squeals!

[Puff-Cloud]

My 89 Blazer's a/c is now squealing whenever I turn it on. It started yesterday when i was taking my sister to work. I was nearly at the destination when I hear a big squealing coming from the car. I turn off the a/c and it stopped. I pulled into a parking lot, turned the a/c back on for a brief moment, and my car stalled. I turned it off again, with the a/c off an then turned it on. I then noticed that smoke was coming from the compressor area, not the compressor. I turned it off and drove home normally without the a/c and didn't encounter any problems.

I don't know if it's the clutch that's gone out, or if it's the compressor, but i'm really worried that something will need to be replaced. I hope I don't have to replace the compressor and clutch, since it's a bitch to afford.

Please help me.

[Schwein]

are you absolutely sure its not you alternator going out?

[bustedratchet]

Sounds like the compressor locked up internally. The smoke you saw was probably the belt burning on the pulley while the compressor was engaged.

[Puff-Cloud]

I have a trip to orlando in four days, will my belt work fine with the a/c turned off, or will it cause more problems?

[bustedratchet]

You may want to unplug the compressor because it will want to turn on in the defrost mode. I would check the belt to see how burned up it got before your trip.

[ridge_runner]

well first off i would pop the hood and have a friend start it and turn the a/c on while you carefully look around under the hood to see whats going on