barkwaffle

Loud humming from air conditioner compressor area when son was driving our Civic LX '98. (With air turned off). When air is turned on pulley appears to be frozen - belt squeals, car lurches and tries to stall, I guess from drag on drive pulley. Two questions, could it be only the clutch assembly that's frozen? Or the compressor itself? And is it possible to separate the clutch from the compressor, or is it one assembly? To get car driveable, is it possible to cut the belt and remove it, or does it drive something else also? Is compressor replacement easy for a novice? (Me!) 115,000 miles. Thanks!

barkwaffle

I searched for A/C issues on the forum and see tons of similar problems when compressor going bad. I repeat, do I need to replace entire compressor I assume? Or just the clutch assembly? Also, seems to be impossible to re-install refrigerant correctly if I'm reading between the lines correctly - - must an A/C place do it? thanks!

95DxSi-R2

sounds like pulley bearing if it's doing it with the a/c off

barkwaffle

Which pulley - - the tensioner/idler pulley? But it gets severe and belt locks when a/c turned on...?

95DxSi-R2

sounds like your not mechanically inclined, but take the a/c belt loose, turn the clutch, outer piece, if the moves hard, replace the comp. turn the pulley, if you hear a starnge sound order the clutch pulley assembly