My `88 383 TPI Iroc still has the original air conditioning system which I have stopped using because it has been leaking oil from some of the fittings and the compressor sounds a bit tired and cycles on and off rapidly. What I want to know is if I can safely leave it connected but not use it until I can afford to up-grade the system. Is there any way the compressor can freeze up or lock up while I am driving? I have a 600 mile road trip coming up and don`t want to be broke down in the middle of nowhere.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the pully should be freewheeling when the compressor is not on. You could remove the belt from the pulley and just spin it by hand. Check to see if it's difficult to turn, sounds or feels like it's rubbing or scraping or just making unusual sounds at all. If it is doing any of those, it could be on its way out. This is a secondary way I check my pulleys after I have em out to replace em. They always are a lot more difficult to turn than the new ones. By difficult I don't necessarily mean lots of force, just not easy to turn like new ones. Smog pumps and alternators are my most infamous examples of this. Always when they go bad on me, the pulleys feel like they are scraping, making noise when turning and/or won't freespin much or at all when I give em a quick spin.

Your compressor is prolly fine. Its most likely turning on and aoff fast due to low freon. As long as its not used you should be fine and not damage anything until you upgrade it whenever you do. My 79 TA was the same way when I stopped using the AC and the original compressor pulley was fine for years after till I got rid of the car.

 

Elthesh, thank you so much for your response, I really do appreciate it. Jim