A/C Clutch fried can I replace it?

[DADS71]

I installed rebuilt compressor from delco store $250-300 this past dec. previous one had blew a seal around clutch. yesterday I was going down hiway and smelled electrical smell (burnt) never a good smell. opened hood clutch was smoken hot. And it fried, the metal ring on front spins and flops around .It seems like this also happened years ago when I had the blower switch in the second notch down from top the clutch wouldnt stay engaged it would pulsate on and off and fried the clutch that time also but in third notch down it stayed engaged and worked fine. I also had it in second notch yesterday. 1st off can you replace just the clutch successfully? and can any body help out on the switc, what would cause 1 location to frie out clutch?

[cdowns]

clutch can be replaced a number of years ago i needed one and got it at NAPA

[68gmsee]

You will also need the special removal tools to do it. Clutch definitely is cheaper but I tried to do it on another vehicle many years ago and wound up replacing the whole asm anyway.

[big_al_71]

yes you can change the clutch by it self, as far as the switch I cant help you with that but I will say that it is alwasy better to run it on high as the a/c resistor tends to burn out when the blower speed is at medium or low is what MY experience has been in the past adjust the temp rather than the speed.

[mikajo39]

yeah I got a clutch off a working A6 compressor at a swap meet for 5 bucks, removed it with a the AC clutch removal tool avalible at kragen on their rent out tool program took about 6 hours but it wasnt too hard.
Followed this guys directions printed em out and followed em. http://www.bernardembden.com/xjs/comclutch/index.htm

[DADS71]

Thanks for all the replys guys. I ended up finding receipt it was under warranty even had to prove I installed new dryer. Got new unit installed. What could possibly be frying clutch out through blower switch/ bad connection?

[mikajo39]

Originally Posted by DADS71

Thanks for all the replys guys. I ended up finding receipt it was under warranty even had to prove I installed new dryer. Got new unit installed. What could possibly be frying clutch out through blower switch/ bad connection?

If it sat for a while they can go out,If it the clutch pack wasn't getting enough power I could see that as a problem not grabbing all the way and slipping making hot and burn out, sometimes they just go out

[fixit-p]

high resistance in that circuit causing a low voltage at the clutch. possibly bad contacts in switch. I would measure voltage at the clutch and troubleshoot from there. You could always install a relay to ensure the clutch always gets full batery voltage and take the load off of the cab wiring, but I would fix the problem first.

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by fixit-p

high resistance in that circuit causing a low voltage at the clutch. possibly bad contacts in switch. I would measure voltage at the clutch and troubleshoot from there. You could always install a relay to ensure the clutch always gets full batery voltage and take the load off of the cab wiring, but I would fix the problem first.

^ I agree put a relay in the curcuit it will take the brunt if you don't happen to find out the bad spot on the switch. Have you checked with the parts vendors on here? They might have a replacement switch available.

[DADS71]

This compressor had 3 hours of total running time from last fall to now. I have put a new switch in one of my other trucks do you think that would help? Also on the truck that fried clutch there seemed to be only 1 fan speed when you moved lever up and down.

[ERASER5]

Low voltage will smoke a clutch faster than you would believe. I would recommend the relay also. To find the bad spot, a volt meter is not enough. You will need to test the voltage AT LOAD. The load needs to pull about 4 amps. The relay will only pull 1/2 amp or less so you should be good to go. An added bonus the relay is that you drop the over all load on your 40 year old wiring. Always a good thing!

On a side note, I have often thought about installing a relay/fuse box from a late model just to have relays ready to go for any need. Of course I have not quite found the right spot yet.

[fixit-p]

also check the ground side of the circuit