A/C compressor bypass?

dmac601 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:22 pm **Posts:** 10

Hey everyone, I'm on vacation about 500 mi from home. I have lost my a/c compressor (squeels, smells of hot breaks etc.) on my '03. I do not have $500.00+ for a new clutch or (God forbid ) a new compressor. Can I bypass the compressor with a serpentine belt from a Liberty w/o A/C? If so, does anyone have the belt routing.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:32 pm

Ive personally never seen a liberty with-out A/C but there may be some out there. I know on some vehicles without A/C they just mount a pulley in place of the A/C compressor so even if it didnt come with the A/C you couldnt do that.

If the clutch is bad then just dont use the A/C. Unplug the wire going to the compressor to make sure it doesnt kick on at all. Remember, it kicks on when you have the defrost on as well.

If the bearings are going out of the compressor then you may not have a choice but to replace it.

We had a compressor with bad bearings going out of a 94 grand Cherokee and we ran it for almost a year like that. The belt squealed like no other at times(mostly when hot) but it lasted. I do not recommend this but sometimes you cannot help it. If you do try to ride it out, it may not be a bad idea to go ahead and pick up a belt incase the current one eventually breaks from the added stress of the bad bearings. That way you could at least put the new belt on and get it somewhere to get worked on and not be stranded.

Where are you located? Maybe a lost member with some know-how lives in your current location and could help out.

If you need to get the belt off to try and fix it yourself, its very quick and easy to do. Here is a write-up with some pics on how to do it:

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread. ... light=belt

dmac601 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:22 pm **Posts:** 10

We're in Gatlinburg TN, bumper to bumper traffic. We will be travelling back to northern Ohio on Saturday. The bearings are out, can move the clutch pulley back and forth. Can the clutch alone be replaced? I found a complete compressor on ebay for $125.00 + shipping. Funny (or not) I have to replace the compressor on my wife's Vibe too.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:48 pm

I have heard of people replacing just the clutch but from what I read it sounded like he needed a puller and such. Ive not read about many people replacing just the clutch though.

Thats the way it was on our ZJ, the pulley moved back and forth.

If the Jeep has a lot of miles on it then it may not be a bad idea to replace the compressor.

A/C compressor bypass?

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