Air condition shot

Emil · Post by **Emil** » 21 Oct 2017, 16:00

Afternoon,

So my "trusty" V70 is still going, at 253K miles now, transmission and all... But now my AC clutch has gone bad on me. I would have liked to just change the clutch, but can find many who would recommend that. I have seen some discussion about bypassing the compressor with a shorter belt, but haven't found the exact belt for a 2001 V70, 2.4T. Has anyone here done this, or know what belt I could use?

I will not need an AC here in ND, until next summer, and I am not banking on this poor car to make it another winter so I rather not throw $500+ into a new AC compressor/clutch assembly and recharging.

Thanks,
Emil

Post by **oragex** » 21 Oct 2017, 17:01

Ipd has one for the older 2.4 engine, maybe drop them an email see if theres also one available for the 2001 engine

Post by **abscate** » 01 Nov 2017, 04:59

Emil...if you can source a used clutch I'm guessing it will be about $50 plus labour.

You can replace it on the car without discharging the AC so no vacuum/fill required

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 01 Nov 2017, 07:41

Does the old clutch prevent the pulley from turning? In other words, can your inoperative compressor serve as an idler pulley?

253K is up there alright, but why do you think the vehicle is at the end of its life?

If the car looks OK and there are no "gremlins" (aka check engine lights/codes) then selling it with working AC would be much easier.

Are you at the point where exhaust, tires, front end parts AND MORE are all dying?

Emil · Post by **Emil** » 24 Jan 2018, 15:57

Follow-up.

So I did buy a pulley/bearing and coil assembly. Was quite the job to get the old pulley off, was completely "fused" to the shaft. The heat when the old bearing died had been so intense that the potting material on the coil was all gone, and the coil wires were crisp. Surprised I didn't catch the old lady on fire. But she is running again. Didn't check, yet, if the compressor is shot. No need for AC where I live right not. That will be a spring job. If I am lucky, it will just be fuses/relays, but the new coil does not get energized at this point.

So I will keep her limping along...

Post by **jonesg** » 24 Jan 2018, 16:05

Emil wrote: ↑24 Jan 2018, 15:57 Follow-up.

So I did buy a pulley/bearing and coil assembly. Was quite the job to get the old pulley off, was completely "fused" to the shaft. The heat when the old bearing died had been so intense that the potting material on the coil was all gone, and the coil wires were crisp. Surprised I didn't catch the old lady on fire. But she is running again. Didn't check, yet, if the compressor is shot. No need for AC where I live right not. That will be a spring job. If I am lucky, it will just be fuses/relays, but the new coil does not get energized at this point.

So I will keep her limping along...

How did you get it off?

Post by **abscate** » 24 Jan 2018, 18:53

You can tap it off once the screws are out but it isn't fun unless you drop the AC compressor

On the 1999+ cars, you can't back wheel the Alternator like you can on the -1998 models, it has a freewheeling pulley which don't drive the alternator.

Thread in December 2017 on my 1999 covered this in detail

Post by **oragex** » 25 Jan 2018, 06:54

jonesg wrote: ↑24 Jan 2018, 16:05 How did you get it off?

A Puller 'plate' must be used to remove the clutch plate, and even with this puller it isn't fun, as mentioned above. If you force on the clutch with a screw driver or alike, the clutch plate springs will bend and may become unusable.

: 512EM-pKtwL._SL1100_.jpg (26.28 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

Emil · Post by **Emil** » 25 Jan 2018, 09:40

jonesg wrote: ↑24 Jan 2018, 16:05
Emil wrote: ↑24 Jan 2018, 15:57 Follow-up.

So I did buy a pulley/bearing and coil assembly. Was quite the job to get the old pulley off, was completely "fused" to the shaft. The heat when the old bearing died had been so intense that the potting material on the coil was all gone, and the coil wires were crisp. Surprised I didn't catch the old lady on fire. But she is running again. Didn't check, yet, if the compressor is shot. No need for AC where I live right not. That will be a spring job. If I am lucky, it will just be fuses/relays, but the new coil does not get energized at this point.

So I will keep her limping along...
How did you get it off?

I did it from above, after removing the alternator to gain better access. Blocked up the ac at a slight angle and got a pulley removal tool rented at Autozone. It is a special tool for this purpose and can be used in tight spaces (clutch comes off first using 3 I believe 4mm bolts into pre-threaded holes on the clutch plate ). It took several tries, as the hooks wanted to slip off the pulley as I cranked on the bolt that pushes on the shaft. I was very close to cutting the refrig lines and just yanking the whole thing out of there as working down there is not fun.

Emil · Post by **Emil** » 25 Jan 2018, 09:44

oragex wrote: ↑25 Jan 2018, 06:54
jonesg wrote: ↑24 Jan 2018, 16:05 How did you get it off?
A Puller 'plate' must be used to remove the clutch plate, and even with this puller it isn't fun, as mentioned above. If you force on the clutch with a screw driver or alike, the clutch plate springs will bend and may become unusable.
512EM-pKtwL._SL1100_.jpg

The clutch plate is removed with three 4mm bolts, not this this tool. I changed the whole clutch/pulley/coil assembly, comes as one unit. If the bearing is shot, you may as well change the whole assembly. If the compressor is shot, buy the entire unit, pulley and all.