A/C clutch self-destruct

[2rivers]

Working the bugs out of the Prado I guess....TOday I smelled burning electrics inside the cab while driving. Oh oh he says. Pull over and hear a sqealing and open the hood - immediatley look at head/coolant expansion tank! whew OK! Check everything over, and see the racket coming form the A/C condenser unit.. Shut off and check it over. HAs some kind of burnt black crud that smells like burnt electrics leaking out the A/C unit just behind the pully. Then note some kind of spider-web fibreglassy-type material on the nearby hoses and stuff - looks like it came from same spot. So I cut the belt (still had more driving to do and figured I didnt need any engine compartment fires today ). Problem solved. Cept of course no A/C now.

What the heck is that stuff? Hopefully I didnt immerse myself in PCB's. I think it is the A/C clutch, but what would the sqealing noise be? a bearing? I know nothing about A/C systems. Can this part be re-built (the cltuch)? There is a bolt in the centre of the pulley - no idea what's behind that....?

Anyone had similar issue to this? It is a stand alone A/C unit and thankfully has no vaccum pump etc with it.

What about the AC gas? What the heck do I with that - is it best to take it somewhere that does refrigeration stuff?

Thanks,

JOhnny

 

[lshobie]

Ya, take it to someone to recycle the gas. If the compressor siezed (or clutch) then the belt would keep turning and give you the squeal. Or maybe the bearing was gone, or magnets let go - or whatever is in there.

You can take the compressoer apart while on the truck - check out the fac section for a/c help - it's been covered before.

REgards

 

[2rivers]

I give the FAQ a try. Thanks Louis.

To clarify - the rattle/squeal was not from the belt slipping - it was from inside the compressor (front). I will try to find an exploded (haha) diagram of the compressor to see what kind of parts are serviceable (replacable).



JOhnny