Air Compressor Clutch 98 LeSabre

[jennyfromtheblock]

My 98 LeSabre lost its air conditioning six days ago. Three days ago it started making a strange noise & I discovered one of the bearings (closest to the headlights) was not moving. The noise stopped when I turned the air conditioning button ON. The noise came back when I turned the air button OFF. This makes no sense to the two mechanics I've spoken with...

Even more strange... This happened for two days and then suddenly the noise stopped and my air came back on. The next morning, I started my car and it made the noise again and immediately went completely dead - no ticking noise or anything. I jiggled the battery cables and it started again...

One mechanic thinks this is extremely expensive to fix - and the other didn't think it was that complicated to replace the air compressor clutch on a '98...any ideas???

Thanks!

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by jennyfromtheblock

My 98 LeSabre lost its air conditioning six days ago. Three days ago it started making a strange noise & I discovered one of the bearings (closest to the headlights) was not moving. The noise stopped when I turned the air conditioning button ON. The noise came back when I turned the air button OFF. This makes no sense to the two mechanics I've spoken with...

Even more strange... This happened for two days and then suddenly the noise stopped and my air came back on. The next morning, I started my car and it made the noise again and immediately went completely dead - no ticking noise or anything. I jiggled the battery cables and it started again...

One mechanic thinks this is extremely expensive to fix - and the other didn't think it was that complicated to replace the air compressor clutch on a '98...any ideas???

Thanks!

The clutch portion of the AC compressor is replaceable without evacuating the system, so it's not a big project. The clutch clearance is adjustable--I believe from what I've read. This is not something I've worked on myself.

I suggest you have a second problem if the car quit and wiggling the battery cables made contact again. The battery cables can corrode from the gases and chemicals at the battery. The positive (red) cables are a double cable with on end on top of the other and they are both held by the same bolt. Corrosion can form between them and the second cable can lose contact with heating or cooling movement and vibration.

If you or someone can loosen the cables, clean them and retighten them...
First turn off the AC unit with the key ON so that it shuts down.
Turn the key OFF.
Then remove the negative terminal (with the key off)
Then remove the positive terminals. Look between them Use baking soda to rub and clean. Or use a metal bristle brush. Get them clean, then reconnect them and tighten them up.
Then replace the negative terminal.

There have been posts about the copper cable being corroded down inside the plastic ends of the battery cables.
Also check the other ends of the cables for corrosion while the negative cable is disconnected.

This may fix your occasional stall.

[rustbucket]

I have replaced the air conditioner clutch on my '99. It squeaked when the AC was off because its springs were weak and caused it to slide on the plate. You do need a special tool for pulling and putting. Altogether about $50 for the part and the tool.

[brcidd]

This sounds like classic v-5 clutch drag- the air gap has tightened and needs to be adjusted back to .020" . I have answered this several times- and usually see about 1 a week during the hot season. The noise is a scrapping/rattle only with a/c off- should see signs of metal shavings about the clutch hub. The fix is to borrow the installer/removal tool from autozone and back off the air gap a tad. This can be done on car, without removing compressor or refrigerant, and can even be done without removing the shaft nut since the nut does not bottom on the clutch drive. Pull back the plastic cover in wheel well to access