Don Becker
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beaverton, Oregon
The a/c clutch on my '88 XJ, 4.0L Limited is going bad . . . . REALLY noisy and even smokes . . . . I have unplugged it (electrical connection) so that it just "free-spins" and the noise and smoke are gone. I know the clutch is supposed to go on periodically to assist with humidity control/whatever. My question is how long it is that I can likely get by just leaving it unplugged . . . I don't want to bother with replacing the clutch for awhile. In other words, is it likely that while unplugged and just free-spinning the clutch will seize-up and fail?
Also, if you have any experience with this, you might comment re recommendations/cost/etc for replacing that a/c clutch. I've never gotten into any of this and if it involves removal of the a/c pump and disconnecting any a/c lines, I'll just leave it all to my mechanic.
Curiously, at the end of the summer, the a/c clutch failed on my daughter's '95 New Yorker. It burned-up, seized and stopped the engine from cranking (due to melted "stuff" oozed out of the clutch). Fortunately, that vehicle has a separate belt for the a/c unit and I just cut and removed the belt .......................... so, I actually have two to repair or have repaired.
TIA
Don
Also, if you have any experience with this, you might comment re recommendations/cost/etc for replacing that a/c clutch. I've never gotten into any of this and if it involves removal of the a/c pump and disconnecting any a/c lines, I'll just leave it all to my mechanic.
Curiously, at the end of the summer, the a/c clutch failed on my daughter's '95 New Yorker. It burned-up, seized and stopped the engine from cranking (due to melted "stuff" oozed out of the clutch). Fortunately, that vehicle has a separate belt for the a/c unit and I just cut and removed the belt .......................... so, I actually have two to repair or have repaired.
TIA
Don