Hi All, looking for confirmation of a diagnosis:

Over the past months, I've noticed some clunky/rattly noises under the hood when turning on the A/C, usually accompanied by a quick drop in RPM's. This morning, on the drive into work, I noticed the drop in RPM when turning on the A/C was pretty significant, and actually required giving the engine some rev's to help stabilize the idle. As I was pulling into the parking lot at work I noticed a burning smell, and by the time I parked there was a decent amount of smoke coming from the engine bay. I shut the the engine off, popped the hood and noticed that the serpentine belt was smoking/melting/bubbling from where it was wrapped around the A/C compressor pulley.

I'm guessing I have a seized A/C compressor, and just looking for either some confirmation of this diagnosis, or if I'm wrong, looking to be pointed in the right direction.

And if it is a seized compressor, would I be okay to drive home this afternoon, as long as I keep the A/C turned off? (~15 mile commute home)

Appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

 

i would check if it gets hot ac of before driving,dont chop fingers checking

 

Yep as stated above just be sure it is not binding up with AC off. Sounds like the compressor is seizing up but not the bearing on the front side clutch. If that is the case then it likely will be ok, but keep AC off and run it for a few minutes while watching it and make sure it is not slipping or smoking before trying to drive it home. If the belt breaks on you going home then the waterpump will stop turning as well as the alternator.

 

I'm running late for "driving home this afternoon" advice/guesses but the idler pulley bearings seem the most prone to failure. Easy to pop the belt and spin it. Easy if you have a wrench or your maintenance department has one. You can also hand turn the AC compressor while the belt is off. Idler pulley bearings can be replaced. If it turns out to be the AC compressor you can short-belt it until the compressor is fixed (recall the CR does not have AC and the shorter belt that fits it will also fit other s2000s.)

As noted I'd not drive the car unless the belt is turning the water pump.

-- Chuck

 

You can turn the compressor by hand via the clutch, with the car off. The pulley freewheels until the clutch is engaged. If you can't turn the clutch by hand you have a seized compressor.

If the AC is off the ac pulley will freewheel, unless the pulley bearing is shot.

If you're in a bind 6pk1145 aka 450k6 that's the part number for a belt that fits the no AC CR. You can bypass the compressor pulley this way.

 

Thanks for the advice gents!

I made it home without issue just by keeping the A/C off. Didn't appear to be slipping at idle, and didn't get too hot during the commute home. Coolant operating temps were normal too, so I assume the water pump was spinning nice and freely.

I just took the belt off and tried to spin the AC comp pulley by hand. I was able to rotate it maybe 1 in (circumferentially, peak to peak) with my hand, before it seemed to lock up. Not sure if that means the compressor is locked up, and I am bouncing the springs on the clutch from end to end (???)

I do like the idea of getting a CR belt to bypass the compressor. That way I can keep DD'ing it while deciding what to do moving forward.

Appreciate the input!