Problem With My 02 Mustang.

[JessEmm]

Hello all,

I'm new to the forums and hopefully will be able to get some advice. I was driving yesterday and noticed the A/C started blowing hot air. I thought it was a temporary thing (sometimes air blows less cold for a minute, then picks back up). Next thing is I see smoke coming out from my hood. I pull over at a gas station and pop it open, left it like that for a bit so the smoke would go out. I heard a sound, so I went to go open the hood, it seems the belt snapped. It was a new belt, I had got it put on a few months ago. I noticed the smoke was coming from one of the parts specifically, and the front of it looked like it had been burning off? I've attached photos.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Nater_Potater]

It looks like your A/C pump has seized. As it sits in the picture, you should be able to grab the grooved pulley and spin it freely, while the A/C pump itself can be turned with the three-lobed plate (on which yours is melting the polymer couplers). Normally, you should be able to turn the pump by hand with some resistance, but I'm betting yours won't. Once the pump seizes, the engine will try to spin the pump via the belt (when the A/C is on), but the seized pump then causes the clutch to slip, thus overheating the front of the pump, melting every associated plastic piece (belt and couplers). Seeing the thrown belt, melted coupler, and especially the metal shavings in the clutch all point to a bad pump.

Nathan

 

[JessEmm]

It looks like your A/C pump has seized. As it sits in the picture, you should be able to grab the grooved pulley and spin it freely, while the A/C pump itself can be turned with the three-lobed plate (on which yours is melting the polymer couplers). Normally, you should be able to turn the pump by hand with some resistance, but I'm betting yours won't. Once the pump seizes, the engine will try to spin the pump via the belt (when the A/C is on), but the seized pump then causes the clutch to slip, thus overheating the front of the pump, melting every associated plastic piece (belt and couplers). Seeing the thrown belt, melted coupler, and especially the metal shavings in the clutch all point to a bad pump.

Nathan

If I replaced the belt, would I be able to run the car if the A/C is off? It's been difficult to find a mechanic that does house calls!

 

[Nater_Potater]

You can run without the a/c as long as two things take place:
1) Disconnect the electrical plug from the compressor clutch so there's no way the clutch can engage,
2) Ensure the pulley bearings on the compressor allow the pulley to freely run with the a/c off. If not, you could pull the compressor and install a "bypass pulley". Basically, an idler pulley where the compressor used to be. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NDP6601837 is one option.

Nathan