Trying to fix the AC in my '87 GTA Firebird. I noticed there is no belt on the AC compressor, so the previous owner obviously removed it. Does anyone have a reason why it would have been removed? I don't want to put one on and cause any damage.

Thanks

 

It wasn't working so they took the belt off. Put a belt on and try it. Might only need freon.

 

my bet is clutch failure...

 

^That'd be my GUESS....but that's about all anyone on here can do...wildassed guess. We don't know, we're not there. You're there; spin the pulley. How's it sound/feel? If good, put a belt on, see what happens.

 

My bet is yerbasic HUMAN STUUUUUUPIDITY. Kinda, the same answer that always applies to the question "why did [PO] do [this incredibly stuuuuuupid thing] to this car instead of actually repairing it?"

Always seems to happen to either the electrical system, creature comforts like AC and the stereo, and of course, carb swaps.

So yeah, the AC probably failed somehow, and rather than actually dealing with the issue, the PO ... did THAT ... instead. You have little to no way of knowing what the failure was, if anything (the belt mighta just wore out and fell off, or he decided that he was gonna "add HP" by disabling the AC), until you troubleshoot it a little bit. Like, does the compressor turn? Make any weird noises? Does the clutch spin freely? Make any bearing noises or feel rough or anything? Is there any refrigerant in the system? (push one of the service valves and see if any comes out) And so on.

 

Removing that belt unleashed an instant 25 HP !!!