Heppened instantaneously and quietly yesterday between one corner and the next; quick look under the hood shows plenty of fluid, but belt/pulley isn't turning. Can the pump have frozen up while driving???
- posted
19 years ago
1989 240, power steering kaput
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- posted
19 years ago
It's the clutch, specifically the bearing under the clutch (normally part of the clutch when it is replaced, but I had a Dodge with a NipponDenso compressor where it was a separate part.) It can be replaced without opening the system.
However... A/C compressors tend to last about as long as the clutch. When the clutch broke on the compressor in our 85 765T, I searched high and low and found a clutch for $150. That served us a year until the compressor seized while turboing up a long hill. (The difference between a seized bearing and a seized compressor is that the bearing is always seized, while the compressor is visibly seized only when the clutch is activated.)
Mike
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- posted
19 years ago
There is a belt from the crankshaft to the A/C compressor. Then there is a belt from the compressor to the power steering pump. The crank turns the compressor, the compressor turns the pump. Both belts have to be there for the power steering to work.
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- posted
19 years ago
corner
compressor?
compressor
seized
Oh, of course! Since the PS pump is nonturning even when the AC is off, it must be the clutch/pulley and not the AC compressor. I can feel my wallet smiling already. Thanks.
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- posted
19 years ago
If the belt isn't squeeling then the tensioner probably broke, the pully is one piece so the only thing that would cause it to stop turning (I've had this happen before) is if the AC system is discharged (so no oil) and the clutch siezes causing the compressor to spin until it siezes and then you get the squeeling until the belt comes off or breaks. In your case it sounds like the solution will be much simpler.