I'm told my a/c compressor is seized up. I'm wondering if it could be a bearing. How can we identify that the compressor is actually seized up and he doesn't want to just sell a compressor job for $900. Thinking about a compressor bypass pulley.

It sounds like you have a defective AC compressor pulley bearing. Have it diagnosed and replaced ASAP as if it seizes up it will burn up the belt and cause a breakdown.

You can just disconnect the connector at the compressor and tie it out of the way. If your bearing on the clutch is going bad, then it will eventually seize up causing the belt to make big noise and break.

I interpret this as the Passengers side of your car. Usually the serpentine belt breaks when the A/C compressor seizes. That is the part which is probably grinding or the A/C clutch bearing is seized.

Although this is Winter, the Defroster is made to activate the compressor to lube it during the Winter. Now the pulley that turns the compressor has a clutch bearing. It is ALWAYS turning when the engine is on except when electricity is applied to the compressor clutch and it locks and turns the A/C compressor shaft.

What needs to be done now is to determine if the A/C clutch bearing is bad or if the A/C compressor is bad. Most A/C clutch bearings can be removed and replaced. SOME of the bearings within the A/C clutch can be changed and then they are as good as new.

The procedure for replacing the bearing is 1 step beyond replacing the entire A/C clutch. The fan shroud must be removed, the serpentine belt must come off, then a small bolt and a retaining clip must be removed and the clutch slid off the compressor.

There is no need to remove the compressor or lose Freon. The bearing situation can be determined once the serpentine belt is removed and the parts turned by hand.

shysters... they also should have a compressor delete pulley so you dont have to use a shorter belt. did the compressor seize up or the compressor clutch bearing seize up ??? two different parts and repairs... they're trying to sell you a complete ac job when a new clutch will probably fix your problem... or if you're a gambling man, you might even change the bearing in the clutch assy yourself :-)

find another honest shop and let them know you're not happy for them lying to you and you will report them to the BBB

oh, I've had multiple gm vehicles in the same body class with the same drive train... I do know what I am typing... being an ASE tech helps as well :-)

Is it seizing with the AC on? Or Off? Or both? If it is seizing even with the AC is on and off then this is an internal issue with the compressor, replace the compressor. If it is only doing it while turned on and is still blowing cold air then replace the clutch pulley.

You can try and disconnect the Electric lead to the compressor. If it is the clutch bearing that is bad it will not help for long. It will just take pressure off the shaft.

If your compressor clutch bearing is good, then disconnecting the compressor is a viable idea. The internal parts of the compressor are turned by the shaft and if the shaft is not turning, everything will be fine. But if the compressor clutch bearing is the part making noise (the part in front which clicks on and off) it will still turn and eventually seize.

There are a few things you can do. If you find that the compressor clutch bearing is the noisy part, check with Autozone or Oreiilys or Advance about tool loaners and what you would need to do to switch just the compressor clutch. This would allow you to do what you wanted to do in the first place and having a good bearing on the A/C clutch is mandatory.

Or instead of buying a new compressor clutch, having to borrow tools, and installing a good clutch on a bad compressor just to get it to freewheel its a lot of work. You could spend your money on a used compressor complete with a clutch on it at a Salvage yard. Then you could do a bolt-on replacement and have the Freon serviced later when you have more money. You would be starting out ahead with the different compressor and only need a part called a DRYER which an A/C place should replace anyway.

Either way you do it, it is mandatory that the compressor clutch bearing be okay. I hope that my solutions are very helpful in giving you a few options to try.

It's not supposed to. Pull the fuse for the compressor clutch to see if it is still running the compressor. If it does, that means the clutch bearing has seized. Not sure if the bearing is replaceable or the whole compressor has to be replaced. Hope this helps!

Actually,you both could be right.It may be the bearing inside the compressor.The compressor does not make the cold air,it helps pressurize the system to get the freon from the evaporator to the condenser.The evaporator provides the cold air.If you can,open your hood and have someone start your car.Have them give it some gas and see if you can pinpoint the noise more accurately.If your compressor bearing causes it to seize up,you will probably only get a couple of miles before your belt snaps.Another slight possibility is the tensioner.It's pretty rare but stranger things have happened.I did have a compressor seizure years ago and snapped a belt though.If you can pinpoint the noise it would help to know.If you can't I would like a better description of the noise though.Good luck! Greg

the bearings are seized need to replace ac compressor

If the bearing for the belt pulley on the compressor seizes, the engine can quit and even appear to be seized as well. Remove the a/c belt and try to start the engine.