91 3.8 air conditioner question

[bluebuick91]

Hi all... the air conditioning pump/pulley is out. It started smoking really bad, and is now really loose, slides in and out when you take the belt off.

My question is, can I buy a serpentine belt for a lesabre without air conditioning, put it on and run the car, bypassing the air pump? One is available, but I am not sure if it can be done...thanks for the help!

[HotZ28]

Yes, it can and has been done.

[bluebuick91]

can i just put the other belt on or do I have to have the bypass pulley for it? Also, i heard that you can just change the clutch pulley also, is that true and how do you pull it? thanks for your help guys!!

[Ncgreasemonkey]

My buick has the same problem. I found that the clutch has come apart, and the inner half is rubbing around and causing alot of noise. I was trying to remove the clutch and just pull of the loose piece, but found that I didn't have a socket to fit the clutch, what gives?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by Ncgreasemonkey

My buick has the same problem. I found that the clutch has come apart, and the inner half is rubbing around and causing alot of noise. I was trying to remove the clutch and just pull of the loose piece, but found that I didn't have a socket to fit the clutch, what gives?

You need a clutch remover tool simular to this: ToolSource - Product Display

[Ncgreasemonkey]

Thanks for the tip Z. Thought that might be the case, I noted the threaded inside of the hub, but wasn't sure if there was a nut holding the center. Kinda looked like it, but I only checked it out for a bit. I'll be headin' down to autozone's lone-a-tool deal tomorrow. Was just gonna put an ac bypass pulley on, but it would appear motormite has scrappped that, 'cause it's on national backorder atm. Guess I'll just go back to plan A