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burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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thayden
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Jun 6, 2010, 11:21 AM
Post #1 of 6
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burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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I have a lincoln town car 1993, about 120,000 miles on it. Car was driving fine, I had the a/c on max and the coldest setting. Then the air coming from the vents became warm and I started to smell a burning rubber smell. After about a mile more of driving I pulled over and popped the hood, the smell was strong and I noticed a small faint stream of smoke from area of the serpentine belt where the A/C compressor wheel and tensioner wheel but a little further towards the back of the engine (couldn't quite see any further) I haven't tried anything yet because I really dont know what the problem is. Any advice or suggestions on things I should check would be much appreciated. Thanks
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Sidom
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/ Moderator
Jun 6, 2010, 11:38 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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It sounds like your compressor or clutch may have locked up. If the belt is spinning with no smell or noise then the clutch is proabably ok.
See if you can turn the outer plate on the end of the clutch by hand. If not the compressor has probably failed. To make sure you can look at the plate while the engine is running and have someone quickly turn the a/c on & back off again..... If the plate doesn't move and the belt makes a squeeling noise that would confirm it..... At that point I would disable the comp until it can be replaced. Either unplug the connector at the clutch or the one on the low press cutoff sw on the accumulator.... you don't want it accidently coming on and breaking your belt.... If it's smoke it will need a new one anyway but at this point, it still is in one piece & no other damage has happpened...... yet.
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thayden
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Jun 6, 2010, 11:44 AM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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not sure of all the lingo you used there, ha. What plate are you referring to when you say to run the car turn the a/c on and off and check to see if it's moving. Are you referring to the A/C compressor wheel and see if it spins with the belt?
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Sidom
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Jun 6, 2010, 1:06 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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The end plate is the part the clutch engages to that spins the compressor. With the car off you should be able to turn it over by hand
The part in front of the feeler gauge is the plate I am referring to.....You should be able turn turn that by hand. Also with the engine running, it won't be moving until the a/c turns on & then will start spinning, if it doesn't turn with the a/c turned on & the belt makes noise & smokes. That would be an sign that the compressor is locked up.
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thayden
New User
Jun 7, 2010, 2:46 PM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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So it looks like the compressor locked up, what are some things I can do about that. Is it inevitable that I need to buy a new compressor or are there some things i can do?
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Sidom
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Jun 7, 2010, 7:13 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: burning rubber smell, small stream of smoke
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No unfortunately if the compressor is locked up, it's going to need a complete system. Minimum compressor, accumulator, orifice tube and a good flushing. Depending on how bad the comp came apart it might not be a bad idea to change out the condenser as well.
Like I mentioned before, if you are going to drive it until you do the repairs, make sure the comp is disconnected so it doesn't accidently try to engage and totally break the belt........
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