Hi Olds friends,

I've got a '72 Cutlass S (350, auto, w/ A/C). I've never really worked on my AC, so I'm not really familiar with all of the parts or the terms. Please bare with me as I learn about it. My question is below....I'm hoping you genuises might have some insight for me.

For the last couple of months, I've had a metallic 'dinging' sound coming from the A/C compressor (Sorry, I can't think of a better way to describe it). It seemed to stop if I turned the A/C on in the car.

Anyway, today I noticed that the compressor looks a little odd on the front of the pulley. It looks like one of the circles (the one directly in front of the pulley's track) has slid out of alignment or something. I'd imagine that the compressor needs to be replaced or serviced at this point.

I think driving the car as-is would be a mistake...the last thing I want to do is have the pulley come off while driving...so, here comes my question.

In the interim between now and getting the compressor fixed, can I simply remove or cut the belt that goes from the compressor to the center pulley? Are there any negatives to this? I don't need AC, as I don't use it..so that's not really a negative for me.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Russ

 

Removing the belt shouldn't cause a problem.

 

Thanks for the response, Danny.

I heard somewhere that it can make things unbalanced...but then again, a lot of 350s don't have AC...so I wasn't sure...

I'm going to try and post a picture of the compressor later on. Maybe someone more knowledgeable in these things than myself can let me know what went wrong, and best way to fix it (or whether or not it's just easier to replace).

Rock!

Russ

 

A lot of the cars you see now and then yanked the compressor to save weight, I did for years in a hardtop I had with no ill effects. It sounds like the compressor clutch is bad by your description. If the compressor is okay I think the clutch can be serviced seperately according to the service manual. Those compressors are expensive so it may be an option if you can find somebody to do it or can do it yourself, but it may be six of one and a half dozen of the other for savings in the end. The factory service manual shows how.
I have a perfect unused unit TRW in Cleveland used as a belt fitment test mock-up on mine, cost me 5 bucks from an engineer's kid who's dad worked there.

Allan

 

by the way you described it sounds like your compressor clutch is worn.

 

Remove the belt No problem.then have the clutch Assy replaced or Reman A6 compressor

 

Thanks everybody! I will remove the belt for now in hopes of replacing the clutch sometime in the next weeks.

Rock on!

- Russ

 

Air conditioning compressor clutches very often make odd noises that come and go , but they may continue to function for many thousands of more miles. The clutch on my 2003 Malibu has made various noises for the last 40,000 miles. I ignore them.

 

What you've described is a faulty a/c clutch. It's easy enough to change, with the proper tools, but often the clutch fails because of a bad compressor. Turn the center shaft by hand; if it turns smoothly, you may just need a new clutch. Good luck.

 

Yes, imbalance can be an issue if the car will be run a long time with the belt removed.
Since the alt and PS belts are on the left, the tension on the A/C helps to balance out the pressure on the bearings of the water pump and crankshaft.
If the car did not come with A/C from the factory, the alt was installed on the right to equalize the tension.
Driving excessively without the A/C belt can increase WP and crankshaft bearing wear, but I do not know how much - should be very little, but I do not know for sure...

To be safe, I would say leave the belt off until you get the clutch (or compressor) repaired or replaced, then reinstall it.

On a related note, be sure belts are tensioned correctly. Overtightening belts can cause excessive wear of bearings and belts and is not required. When I bought my 72, I had found that the WP-alt belt was "gorilla tight" (right Olds64?) and that may have helped the one year old water pump to start leaking prematurely...

 

 

Thanks for the input, Rob. Great photo albums!

 

Gorilla tight? I like the one on the Three Stooges myself, have to get a costume like that someday. I think Bigfoot deserves equal time, they are native to North America and could use the work. I suppose the investigation is still ongoing with 2blu442's ride and the Sasquatch. Ever try to get lug nuts loose after a mechanicfoot changes a tire?

Sep01#04a.JPG

Allan

 

Thanks, Russ...
Glad the info helped.


"Bigfoot tight"? That just does not have the right ring to it...
Also, Bigfoot is getting a bad rep thanks to the guys in GA with the gorilla costume claiming it was a bigfoot that they caught...