A/C Clutch?

[jayhoyt28]

Ok i've been searching for the past 2 hours and havent found exactly what i'm looking for. I've been hearing a loud grinding noise from under the hood and traced it down to the A/C pulley. While listening to it I noticed that the inside part of the pulley...the clutch I believe...tries to turn but only does it in spurts. about a quarter of a turn everytime it moves. And everytime it does move the noise is loudest. The outside pulley itself turns nice and freely. I dont care about having a working A/C or not. I was told if I just unplug the harness for the A/C the clutch will stop trying to move and the noise will go away. But I wanted to ask here first because the help i've received from all of you SHO guys in the past few weeks has been amazing. Ideas?

 

[projectSHO89]

Disconnect the clutch electrical connector and see if the noise goes away.

 

[hawkeye18]

If you have difficulty reaching the field coil connector, a much more accessible solution is to disconnect the connector on top of the Dryer/Accumulator at the passenger side firewall; this plug goes to the A/C Clutch cycling switch, and if disconnected will very effectively disable the A/C.

 

[rubydist]

Or, if you remove a shim from the a/c clutch, it will engage again and you will have working a/c.

 

[jayhoyt28]

Or, if you remove a shim from the a/c clutch, it will engage again and you will have working a/c.

I know I should probably search this...but can you give me the procedure for doing that? It would be nice to have a working A/C although i'm not sure of the other components because i've had the car a little under a month but it would be worth a try.

 

[jayhoyt28]

Disconnected the clutch connector and the noise is still there and the clutch is still turning. Doesnt make sense. Any other ideas?

 

[rubydist]

Then the bearings in the clutch pulley are likely going bad.

 

[projectSHO89]

Pull the clutch plate off next.

One bolt. Don't loose any shims that are behind the plate.