Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) A/C Compressor Clutch Questions....

[Hammer]

Ok here is where I am at with my no A/C Problem...



Coming home from Syracuse,NY Sunday I lost the A/C and "assumed" it was the ever failing evaporator core again as its been replaced twice since I have owned the truck. I am in the midst of cleaning and detailing today so I figured before I begin to clean down the motor I would look this A/C issue over a little more. The Compressor clutch was blowing the fuse in the PDC center and I wanted to make sure it had zero to do with my Electric fan assembly.



Well after checking the wiring,calling Flex-A-Lite and making sure I had all the wires in place correctly I found that the clutch itself is bad. I make the call to our local resident A/C guru and he can look at it until Monday at the earliest,which would be OK,except for this weekends All Truck Nationals show. So I ask him since I know the A/C clutch is beyond being safe to drive what my options are and he tells me to go to the shorter Non-A/C belt and bypass the a/c for the time being.



I did that today and I want to know if anyone has done this,leaving the A/C compressor in place. and if they have had any issue with it. Charging system is OK and the belt clears at idle and running it up in the rpm band in the driveway,but,I have yet to wheel it down the street.



Its the first A/C compressor clutch I have ever lost in three trucks and logging over 600,000 miles with them. I am not complaining but I would like to see if anyone has run their rides like this until a shop date could be made?... Any Insight is appreciated... ... . Andy

 

[Missouri Mule]

You should have no probelm at all. Not that I have done it but non-ac trucks do it all the time.

 

[tgrfan2]

I hope you get by with just a clutch. My experience is that they seldom fail unless the compressor is overloading them. My 98 and 95 have 230K and 245K on them without even an AC service. I know I am living on borrowed time.

 

[WDixon27]

my clutch took a crap, the fun part is the clutch costs as much as a new compressor (then you still have a old compressor that may die), i got a pretty good deal on ebay on a new not rebuilt compressor (even better then what i could get it from my wholesaler) i think i was into it for around $350 with a drier and tube

 

[Hammer]

My main concern here is if there is any difference between the non-A/C and A/C tensioner pulleys. I am concerned that coming from the crank pulley around the tensioner and around the water pump is along way to go with no grooved pulleys in between the crank and alternator. Calling my local Dodge dealership is a effort in futility as the guy who used to know has left and the new parts guy is lost in space.



I am not worried about the replacement of the clutch unit as my A/C man has got a new compressor coming for Mondays work. I am however,worried that the belt riding so far at rpm,with no grooved pulleys between the crank and alternator,could allow the belt to walk,slip off and cause more damages.



Its seems like this stuff always happens when your trying to or planning to go to a show somewhere and the warmest temps since 2002 slide into town,what a deal. Thanks to all who have offered some insight so far,its why we all love this hopping place,LOL... ..... Andy

 

[Missouri Mule]

Hammer,go to auto parts store or dealer ask them to pull a belt tensioner pulley for a non ac ram ... see what it looks like, if it is different then the ac one buy it!

 

[WDixon27]

i just looked the tensioners up on our parts system and it doesn't show a difference for with or without ac, may double check with the dealer as our system is more for euro and jap stuff but they are probably the same

 

[BigPapa]

Andy,



The idler on the non A/C is grooved. I also had clutch problems and was going to do the non A/C belt but found the problem with the tensioner pulley. I got a new clutch, I can't remember what it cost but it was not near as much as a compressor. I also remember that the clutch was not listed for my truck but the later model clutch worked fine after I changed the plug.



Some reading here:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...sion-1994-1998/128762-ac-clutch-gone-bad.html



and here:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...13-ok-guys-how-do-i-get-my-ac-clutch-off.html



Scott

 

[Hammer]

Chatted with Forest City Diesel's owner,TDR/DTR member Rammin On,today about it also. Keith has many years of these motors and he informed that there is zero problems running it and that there is no designation from Dodge as to any difference A/C or Non-A/C with the tensioner and its pulley. A call to a dealership out of town away from me finally has concurred with what Kieth told me. I am going to hope I can nurse it through the weekend so I can at least get to my show.



Thank you to all who have responded with their insights... Man this place at times is a real help... ... . Andy

 

[BigPapa]

Well, I guess I better edit my post to say "should be grooved".



The grooved side of the belt will run on the idler with the non-A/C belt versus the smooth side with the A/C belt. At least that's the way the routing diagram under my hood reads.



Scott