I've got an 89 TBI Firebird. I replaced some radiator hoses and was draining the block to flush it. I do remember getting the clutch a little wet. And it sat for a day or two before I got back to running it with the heat on as I filled it with distilled.

When I started it with heat on I noticed the clutch was smoking some. It looked like the clutch was hanging up as it should be spinning. But looked as if it was gummed up as it would turn some, then stop. The clutch got real hot as the clutch plug melted some. And I noticed an area of the belt was really hot.

I started looking at clutches, but noticed most of them only have a 90 day warranty. I think I'll first pull the clutch off to see if I can find what part is bad. But do you need a clutch puller on these Harrison compressors? I've pulled one off a Nippodenso, and all you have to do was remove a nut and some C clips.

Does anyone have any idea what part of the clutch is bad? As I may just look at replacing that part.

 

just go to the junkyard and get a 40 to 50 dollar unit, recharge the system and be done with it... the compressor is smoked

 

How is the compressor bad? I had it charged at the start of the summer. It was working just fine, shut it down for a couple of days to change radiator hoses. Then after a few days when I started it up with the heat on, I could see some smoke coming from the clutch and the clutch would spin some and stop spinning. So, I guess the problem had to do with the clutch getting wet. Which should mean something with the clutch.

I doubt the junkyard would have a compressor as they have crushed most of the 3rd gens. And what ones they still have, most have the engines pulled.

One problem is the block and radiator is filled with 100% distilled water as I'm in the middle of a flush, but can't purge the air since I need the heat on. But maybe I could run it with the AC/heat off and pull a vacuum on the heater hose thing so I can finish flushing the coolant?

 

sorry i live in california and parts are cheap and all over the place... i'm sure it is just the clutch if the compressor is that new... how much is a clutch? is what i was thinking....

 

The compressor isn't new. I just had the system recharged at the start of the summer as a bad valve let all the gas out. It has been working just fine as recently I've had the hood popped with the engine running and the clutch was spinning just fine.

But thenI replaced some hoses and let sit for a few days. Then noticed the clutch was smoking some and the clutch would spin some and not spin like it was gummed up. So, the only thing I could think of was the clutch got wet and that did something with it sitting for a few days. It would be vary strange if the compressor all of a sudden went at that time.

The clutch is $80 with a 90 day warranty. I could spend $130 to get a 12 month warranty, but I don't think that is worth it.

First thing is I'll need to do some checks first to make sure it is just the clutch. I think I remember the pulley not wanting to spin too easily by hand compared to my other car with the engine off. I seem to recall you should be able to actually get the pulley spinning like a wheel.

And I'll need to figure out how to pull the clutch. As I think you need special tools. I've got a clutch puller on rent from Autozone, I won't get it till tommorrow.

I've pulled the clutch on a Nipposdenso compressor, but all I had to do was remove a nut. And a C clip and the entire clutch pulled right off.

 

I sprayed the front clutch openings with Kroil. And that freed the pulley up to where I can easily spin it. I've got the kit. So, I'll go ahead and pull the clutch off, clean it up, throw an old belt on and see what that does. The key is knowing how far to press the clutch plate back on. But I guess I'll probably just figure it out on my own. I assume a .020" air gap and 10 ft/lbs torque on the clutch plate bolt.

 

Is the Harrison compressor an R4?

 

This board is slow as molasses.

With the AC on, I can hear a grinding sound through my stethoscope. Is there any way you could tell if the grinding is from the clutch or compressor? I don't hear a grinding with the AC off.

A local shop said they could check the AC system, and I asked if they could check where the grinding noise was coming from either the clutch or compressor. They said they could, but I'm betting they would tell me what I already know and just guess where the grinding was coming from, so it would be a waste of money.