'91 Engine problems

[cadiking10]

I'm driving on the highway and all of the sudden i hear a grinding/howling noise come from the engine. You can even feel it through the floor board. I slow down and noise goes away so I try and acclerate and the car is hesitant to go. It finally picks up speed, I get the car home and the noise is magnified 10 times. Open hood and notice that I have metal being spewed out around the belt/battery area. Mechanic looks at it (not thoroughly) and says it most likely the ac compressor. Does this sound right?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, could be, but without being there how can we really give you accurate advice.

[cadiking10]

I just figured that maybe someone else has had compressor troubles and have seen an issue like this before. It's not everyday that you have metal spewing from an area like that. But thanks anyway.

[brcidd]

From here it sounds like the torque cushioned clutch drive debonded and is dangling- pulley chewed and spewed by the compressor pulley- as it rotates- so regardless you will need to quit driving it- or it will eventually burn the belt up or flip it off- and consider repairing it- the clutch and pulley can be purchased separately- or if you don't wish to have a/c- that can be bypassed- there were some models that had engine oil cooler lines next to this pulley that could be cut by the "weedeater" swinging torque cushion- so keep this in mind-