My little Ranger 4X4 has air conditioning that I have never used.
I noticed the other day it was making some noise, kicking in and out, and causing my engine to load up at idle, which made the motor rev higher to compensate for the low idle loading, I guess.
I guess the clutch, or ?? is bad on it, and I noticed once I got home it was smoking at the pulley when I popped the hood.
The pulley was moving freely, but something at the front of the unit was extremely hot.
I pulled the wire harness, let it cool, and now with no power to it, it works fine, or I mean, it ain't smoking hot no more  

Since I don't need, or use it, am I OK to drive it this way?

I am thinking it must have some bearings in there, that are toast, when it engages, but is a non issue when in "free spool"
Does that sound about right?

Thanks in advance  

NO AIR-CONDITIONING ?????!!!!!   ...

...

Were you running the defroster? If the a.c. is not okay, then leave the clutch wires off and Test run it. The heat may have been due to quick, constant cycling, and, maybe did no harm to the bearings.
Defrost uses  a.c. ..Dave can tell us why.

If it freewheels ok with the ac off ,should be ok to drive it. The clutch bearing is about the only thing you can replace without dismantling the compressor, fwiw. Smoke coming from the front of the  compressor sounds like maybe the compressor might be siezed. Nothing to be done but replace it. A quick visit to the ac shop will tell. You're really supposed to run the ac fir a few minutes every couple of weeks to avoid this kindof thing. The ac system has a dose of oil loaded into it and iit circulates around with the gas. It needs occasionally running to keep oil where it needs to be especially in the bits of the compressor.

Yes, that seems the case, re: lubrication.

I ran it around the hood for 15 minutes within walking distance to the house in this pouring rain, just in case.  

Ran GREAT, even seemed better than before, maybe it was loading the motor at higher drive speeds too?
I ran the defroster, fan, heat, etc, all is good to go.

Think I'll leave it be for now, as I am busy on the TT board trying to educate, the uneducated-able  

Thanks all appreciate it mucho gracias  

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/05/15 at 13:45:01:



Nope.......no AC or defrost using compressor, but it still defrost good enough without it.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/05/15 at 10:52:15:


My alias was never Dave!  

The AC sends dry air to the defroster. Think of the dry air like a sponge. If the defroster used humid air it wouldn't be as efficient. Part of the air conditioner's responsibility is to pull humidity out of the air. The dry air blowing over your window soaks in the moisture that's accumulated and allows you to see.