We are debating(that means that one person has one idea and the other person has a different idea) about whether to remove the dash A/C comppressor while we have the front of Old Blue apart. If the compressor were to sieze and break a belt, would the power steering, water pump, be affected in any way? The Breakaway broke a belt when the compressor froze up and the belt flew around and ripped up some wire which in turn caused some difficult problems. Of course that was a diesel. BTW, we are removing the smog pump.

The compressor can cause the belt to fail if it locks up; if it's a single serpentine belt, you lose power steering and brakes (if Hydroboost).

Howewer, the A/C pulley will usually spin freely if the clutch is disengaged.

Mine is not a serpentine belt. From what I've read even if the a/c compressor seizes, there are other belts that operate the power steering and the alternator. My concern is the damage a broken belt might do flying around in the engine compartment. Is there a reasonable chance that the a/c compressor pulley might lock up even tho the compressor is not on? thanks
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jim and Tere:
My concern is the damage a broken belt might do flying around in the engine compartment. Is there a reasonable chance that the a/c compressor pulley might lock up even tho the compressor is not on? thanks
Jim

Either circumstance would be very unusual. Once the belt breaks, it is not longer propelled by anything and is unlikely to keep whipping around, as yours might have done. But, maybe one single whipping, as soon as your belt broke, just happened to whack some wires.
As for the clutch on the front of the AC comp, my experience has been that they get very noisy when they are going bad.

Study it before removing AC comp. Jim....If it's like mine, the swing arm bracket of the compressor is your only source of tension adjustment for that belt....you may need to come up with some type of adjustable idler pulley to compensate.....

Jim,

I can't believe the timing of this question.

MY wife's 1994 Mustang (I know not a motorhome) just went thru what you are talking about.

The ac hi/lo pressure manifold sprung a leak and all the ac fluid/lubricant came out. This resulted in the compressor and the compressor clutch locking up which burned the belt and snapped it in two. When the compressor was removed, the clutch was completely siezed and had became so hot it burned out the rubber vibration plugs in front of the clutch.

Just thought I would pass this on to you.

Jim