I recently noticed my A/c Compressor belt was mysteriously gone so I decided to replace it. After doing so I start the engine, which was a lil hard to turn over due to the pulley, and theres this loud constant squealing. So I turn the engine off before even looking at it cuz it just did not sound too pleasant. I reach through the wheel well and touch the belt and its red-hot. I'm assuming my pulley is frozen. Do I have to order a whole new A/c compressor? A new pulley? Please help and thank you.

 

Take the belt off and see if you can spin the compressor by hand. Chances are it's the bearing in the tensioner pulley that's seized not the compressor. If so you can just replace that bearing. It's between the compressor and the crank pulley. It's simple to change. 1 nut!

What year is your Civic?

 

Thank you I'll check that out. Its a '98.

 

compressor clutch May be locked up

 

Yeah it is worth checking the tensioner pulley but I bet you compressor is locked up. If that is the case you need to do an AC kit which includes the compressor, receiver drier and expansion valve as well as you need to flush the condenser. You may get lucky and just have a locked up compressor bearing or clutch if that is the case then just a new compressor will fix it.

 

Ok so it could be the bearing, the clutch, or the compressor itself? How do I tell?