Archived AC smoking - literally

[navyjoe]

I'm on the road got to my destination and smoke was coming out from under the hood. My new AC compressor (3000 miles old) had litterly burned up. I turned off the AC and I hope the clutch had disengaged after cooling off, if not I'm grounded until a repair is done.

I seen to recall I have seen a belt option for this truck for ones that don't have AC. Is it possible to buy a belt that can be installed and by pass the AC compressor on this model? just need to know what my options are if any.

2006 Ram 3500 DWD 2x4 Diesel of course Auto trans

Thanks

 

[AllianceDiesel]

yes you can get a non a/c belt

 

[mwilson]

Non A/C belt is a Gates K081102.

I know for sure that the bypass belt will clear the a/c pulley on a 2nd gen, 3rd gen should be the same way.

Mike.

 

[navyjoe]

Ok, thanks. I think I wil by one just in case , even if it disengages. I can always keep it for an emergency spare.

This clutch literally smoked. Just short of catchin on fire. Isnt that unusual?

 

[Bob4x4]

cheap reman??

 

[navyjoe]

cheap reman??

I don't know for sure. I had it done at a local shop. I was supposed to be new. I looked on my receipt and it says new.

 

[BigPapa]

I would quiz them about how much of what kind of compressor oil they used.

 

[navyjoe]

I would quiz them about how much of what kind of compressor oil they used.

Probably castor oil.

Its going to be interesting tomorrow when I talk to the shop to see if they give me grief on the 1 year warranty that I was told came with the job. It is supposed to be a reputable shop. Any time I go by it is full of vehicles.

 

[Tuesdak]

I would carry a non-AC belt as compressors and their pulley bearings result in walking. This is especially true when a shop gets a troublesome AC system and locks up a few compressors before doing the job properly like they should have done the first time. Defective parts aside of course. Get both way too often...

Smoking is the sign the compressor locked up. Common. Just as common to burn the belt off. If the clutch holds the belt slips...

It could also be too large of an air gap on the compressor clutch and the clutch couldn't start the compressor. (Oil from shaft seal leak or other sources can slip the clutch too.) Generally this shows up after the compressor has been running and kicked out aka with head pressure making it harder to start the compressor. So next start up with high head pressure the misadjusted clutch can't start the compressor.

Speaking of this a new compressor clutch needs to be burnished in by cycling the compressor on/off 25 times. It's possible not doing this alone slipped the clutch.

The clutch and idler bearing are ruined. Depending on hot hot things got the shaft seal is questionable. That is if the compressor didn't lock up.

New? As in Chinese knock off new or new Sanden? Did the shop flush the AC system? Why was the compressor replaced? What other parts were replaced with the compressor?

 

[MMeier]

Around here a burned up clutch is usually the result of low voltage at the clutch (coil) it self, or excessive head pressure from an overcharged unit, blockage at the condenser, or a fan clutch not doing what it should. They just don't burn up for no good reason , unless it was a cheapie rebuild, ( GPD comes to mind ) .

 

[mwilson]

We go with the OEM compressor/clutch unit on our company vehicles now. I have had good luck with the GM aftermarket units.The parts store aftermarket ones caused way more trouble and do-overs.

As far as the big trucks go I stock and sell the OEM Sanden and York units that came from the factory, NO REMAN. I have been drifting away from reman as much as possible.

If people would just stop and think about it, new OEM parts are a far better value if available in the long run.

Mike.

 

[cerberusiam]

Remember to move the tensioner pulley to the other mounting hole if you must use the non AC belt. If your lucky it isn't filled with grease and dirt.

 

[Bill Stockard]

When I saw the title to this thread, I thought it could be smoking out the inside vents. "Smoke" from the inside vents reminded me of my formerly owned 1960 Chevy Impala 2DR Hard Top with factory A/C. It would "smoke" out the vents if I opened the door on a warm humid day with the A/C running. The air from the vents would be so cold that when the warm humid outside air hit the cold air from the vents it would immediately condense into fog which appeared as smoke. That was back in the days of Freon 12, big AC/Delco rotary compressors, and adjustable suction throttling valves.

Sorry for the hijack...

Bill

 

[GAmes]

The air from the vents would be so cold that when the warm humid outside air hit the cold air from the vents it would immediately condense into fog which appeared as smoke.

Ha!! Got that beat. On a humid day the AC in an Apache helicopter will spit little ice balls out the vent, and the AC doesn't use Freon or anything like it. It taps hot air from the compressor section of the engine, magic happens, and the air from the vents is literally ice cold. From the outside there appears to be smoke coming from the vents.

 

[jojon01]

nice therad#ad

 

[navyjoe]

I managed to get the truck back "home" without further incident. I unplugged the compressor to be sure, and bought both types of belts (plus a fire extinguisher which had managed to disappear) just to be safe. I really do appreciate all of your(s) input. I will be meeting with the owner of the garage tomorrow who has agreed to fix it all. Thank for all of the input, answers, and suggestions.

 

[MMeier]

Keep us posted !

 

[navyjoe]

Remember to move the tensioner pulley to the other mounting hole if you must use the non AC belt. If your lucky it isn't filled with grease and dirt.

That's a good tip, would never thought (or even knew) about that!

 

[navyjoe]

It's in the shop being repaired. Not even a quible on doing the work. They are going to replace everything, do a system flush and agreed to give me a copy of the receipt from Advance AUto so i can take advantage of the lifetime warranty on the parts if I am home. They even gave me a ride back to the place we were staying. So far I am very impressed with Halls Auto Repair in Surfside Beach SC.