Hi all I am currently driving a 95 Chevy Capris classic it has a V8 and about 87k miles on it at the moment.

Well to start off a couple days ago when I got off work and started the car I noticed a strange noise so I turned off the AC and it stopped. It is my parents car that I am using for a couple weeks and i didn't want to mess anything up permanently so I just left the AC off for the next few days and the car ran fine. Today when I went to pick up my mom from work she insisted on having the AC on ( we live in south texas so it is already nice and warm here) So i said ok but it's making a strage noise, but hey its your car!

So we got about half a mile and hey the noise stops, BUT the AC also quit working along with the power steering and I got a check gauge light on the car. We made it home and my dad looked under the hood and said the serpentine belt was broken....

So my question is if I get the belt replaced should everything work again? Or does it sound like the AC compressor went out on me and that is what broke the belt?? Just trying to get an idea of what to expect cost wise to get this car up and running again... any ideas would be helpful! Thanks


(This post was edited by amanda823 on Apr 22, 2008, 12:27 AM)

http://www.autozone.com/.../repairInfoPages.htm Here is some reading info on the a/c and its clutch.....and my friend TOM will help you on this

Hi,

Seems like this was fine when A/C was not in use so the bearing for the clutch is probably ok but the compressor which is just dead weight when not in use probably does have a problem that broke the belt.

For the moment - just unplug the compressor and install a new belt. Check all other pulley bearings while belt is off. If it runs quiet again with compressor unplugged it's ok to use without A/C for now. If the compressor had crunched, burned out etc., this will be an expensive job now to repair. Debris is probably thru the whole system and will need many parts replaced to have working A/C again.

When noise is heard when a compressor is running - FOLKS unplug them! They can still kick on when other settings are requested - usually most will work when defrost/defog is selected. When the crash it's a mess that could have been avoided. It's called the "Black Death" !!

That few extra minutes of A/C just cost a couple grand - EXTRA! Makes gasoline look free!

Make sure when the belt broke off it didn't wreck anything else while falling off.

I wasn't there but it sure sounds like the compressor itself seized up with lack of lubrication which happens over hard use, time, miles, AND use with low refrigerant which when low fails to carry oil with it to compressor,

T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
_________________________________________

http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/