Okay, so I'm driving to work this morning, got the heat on at 3, the legs and defrost button pushed in and suddenly, over the Counting Crows, I hear this squeal. I think to myself this isn't good...

I get to work, park the car and pop the hood. Smoke, smoke everywhere. I now know this isn't good. I call my boss (who in his younger years, before embracing his managementhood was a mechanic) and he says the air conditioning compressor has "locked-up". You can see that the pulley isn't always turning. So I go to take the car to a mechanic (I work at the "World's Largest Wholesale Auto Auction - so there are shops on grounds) and the car runs momentarily by itself then dies. I have to two-foot it to the shop and the smell when I get there, oh the smell!

Obviously, the dilemma is bypassing the air conditioning compressor yet retaining my power steering. Any suggestions, similiar tales, repair cost estimates?

Thanks!
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Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K

I had this happen on an '87 744. The high pressure hose was leaky, and the loss of refrigerant/lubricating oil caused the compressor to operate as you described. I had this hose replaced and the refrigerant changed to R-134 for a few hundred dollars. The compressor survived and runs fine today.

I had a similar situation with my 1985 244GL. I don't know if IPD sells the compressor bypass kit for your year, but they didn't sell it for the 1985 so I improvised. I bought a 40" top cog belt and cut a small chunk out of the timing belt cover's ignition timing gage lip and then cut the 2nd belt (forward belt) off of the alternator. I ran the belt from the crank to the power steering and it has worked just fine for a few months now. Tighten like normal and make sure the belt path is clear. I hear RPR in CA ((800) 818-6586) has good prices for the compressor and the rest of the junk you need to do it yourself. This info on RPR is from Chris Delano at ipd.

Good Luck.

Thanks! I'll see what the mechanic has to say and print out your post and take it to him if he's at a loss.
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Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K

Hey again Jen-
this happens occasionally as the cars get older.
I don't recommend rigging the belt- the bushings for the power steering will wear out very quickly and you won't be able to keep the pump straight. Cutting the timing cover is another bad idea.
I'm certain a junkyard would sell you a "non-functional" A/C compressor for peanuts- $10? Or if you're interested in having A/C again, go for a new one- they aren't cheap but it's a matter of how much you need cold air.
With the compressor new, the system would be ready for a R134 conversion, vacuum purge and pressure test... hopefully nothing else is shot, and the conversion kit comes with all the new 0-rings you need anyway.
Until you fix it, just get a knife and cut off the big A/C drive belt. Yes, you will lose power steering. But it won;t smell like a burning tire...
It'll all be ok again once you have a compressor that spins freely. My 86 hasn't had functioning A/c since I got it- but the compressor's been doing it's job as an idler pulley just fine for, oh, 50,000 miles?

The car has had the conversion - I don't know when exactly but there is a sticker on the A/C area that says it's been converted.
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Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K

Okay, so the mechanics disconnected the compressor and put some dry-gas in my tank. They say it's running better now. We'll see in about an hour.
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Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K