1998 Olds 88 a/c. Weird problem.

[Wolffe G Puppy]

My gf`s 88 is doing something really weird. When you turn the a/c on,it immediately makes this vibrating/banging noise from the engine compartment somewhere. The engine will shake,try to sputter and die,and smoke starts coming from someplace. I tried to watch the engine and a/c compressor while she turned the a/c on and off with the engine running but I can`t tell where the problem is. Any ideas????? I`ve never had a car do this before so I don`t know where to begin.

Wanted to add........if it`s just idling it`s not as bad,but if you rev the motor,it gets REALLY bad and loud,like a knocking sound. But as soon as you turn off the a/c,the noise immediately stops. I`m guessing the clutch on the a/c compressor is going bad? Could that be where the smoke came from......the clutch causing resistance on the serpentine belt causing slippage?

[HotZ28]

This is hard to diagnose without seeing or hearing! It may be a blockage in the orifice screen causing excessive head pressure on the compressor, or the harmonic balancer outer ring separated from the inner ring. You need to get some expert on-site advice from a trusted mechanic.

[Wolffe G Puppy]

The harmonic balancer..........I didn`t think of that. Makes sense though seeing as the ac still blows cold and it`s not shaking or vibrating when I`m watching it. I`ll check it out and see what happens.