AC compressor help.. >_<

[Jeff Shyu]

not exactly the most opportune time of the year to be without AC.

2006 Mazda 3, 2.3L hatchback.

The belt snapped while I was driving up to san jose, just after I got over the grapevine.

didn't look like a difficult replacement, so I figured i'd do it myself. when I was under the car in the middle of replacing the belt, i checked the pulley on the AC compressor, turns freely, didn't feel like it was binding. got the belt on, tightened it back up, started the car.. no problem. the belt is driven by the accessory pulley off the crank (the only accessory).

once I turn on the AC though, the rotations on the crank pully as well as the AC compressor are still turning, but i start getting heavy friction between the belt and the AC compressor pulley, to the point where it starts smoking, at which point, i promptly killed the engine.

ideas?

[Doug Kott]

Hey Jeff,

I'm no a/c expert, but I beleieve the compressor is clutched, to reduce power consumption when the a/c is off or under full-throttle acceleration. So maybe the compressor is seized and it freewheels only when the clutch is disengaged. Could be why the original belt failed.

[Jeff Shyu]

kinda what i figured too. just wanted to see if there are some other possible opinions before I swap it out. gonna call Tom tomorrow morning to see how much one of em costs.. >_<