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Bracket and Pulley in place of A/C Compressor?
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Posted by: Slow Nova

I'd like to help my neighbors out. Here's the situation:

They have a '91 VW Passat.

It looks to me like the A/C Compressor seized, and the belt is melting away.
It's not a serpentine belt, but the Alternator is dependant on the A/C pulley turning.

There is a belt around the crank pulley that goes to the A/C pulley groove 1. There is a belt connecting A/C pulley groove 2 to the Alternator.

What I want to know is if they can't afford a new A/C compressor, could they just have a metal shop fabricate a bracket with a 2 groove pulley on it to make the belts "think" there is an A/C compressor? Would you recommend it? How much do you guys think it'll cost?

Why couldn't VW go with a more simple belt system? :roll:

Thanks for the help.

Posted by: Penske

I think you'll find it's not the compressor that siezed, but the clutch. Might be cheaper to get a new clutch assembly.

On the other hand, you could find a pulley off a non-A/C car in a junkyard...

Posted by: Slow Nova

I've never worked on an A/C system...I don't know the first thing about them.

How difficult would it be to replace the clutch?

I want to be helpful, but I don't want to spend more than 4-6 hours on it.

Posted by: skeezix

You probly have to take it to an A/C shop to get the clutch replaced as I'm pretty sure you have to pull apart the compressor to change it. A/C shit can be $$$ so I'd suggest unbolting the A/C and fasten it aside (if theres room) and running a non-A/C accessory belt in it's place if that's possible.

To be perfectly honest, I don't have much of a clue about VW's so you'll have to pardon my ignorance.

Posted by: StoneFox

Im not realy sure on a VW, But generaly an AC clutch is not bad at all, if you have the tools to do it, which you can usualy rent at an autoparts store.

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