My wife's in OR and I'm in WA and her a/c compressor has seized. The clutch is engaged so the pully will not turn. What could the matter be? I've talked her through a couple items; turn off a/c switch, remove fuse, tap compressor gently. Nothing. My goal is to get her home so I can remove/repair/replace the offending part. Is it a relay? Should it be normally closed or open. I would think without power, the clutch would be disengaged and the pully would spin preely. Does the coil pull a keyed pin into place or somesuch other mechanical interlock that may be stuck? Thanks for any help, folks.

i haven't heard of the pulley bearing seizing on the 960 yet but i had this happen twice while owning 240's,and being on the road had to cut the belt and also lose power steering doing so.could it be possible the clutch locked in the engaged position?
the mechanic should be able to rig something to get your wife and brick home.i've had use some creative fixes myself to make it home.
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83 242 DL -132k, 92-965-201k, 94-965-208k, 84-242 GLT-Gone, but not forgotten,83-245GLT-1'st brick (the 1'st 3 currently on the road)

OK. Here's an update; The bearings are shot and the mechanic is not willing to short cut the belt. He has in his shop a 960 with it's guts scrambled courtesy of a "short-belt-fix" gone horribly wrong. Sooooo, he's having a new bearing over-nighted and the wife/kids should be back on the road late Friday. A day late and $300.00 clams lighter. Oh, well, I'd have probably just spent that money on tractor or motorcycle parts anyway. "I Go".

Thanks a million for all the help and supporting words o' wisdom.

Hi Island dad, You can take the belt off and get a smaller belt that does not go around the A/c compressor. That is the only way she is going to cover that kind of distance with out replacing the compressor. Any good mechanic with belts at his shop can figure out an alt. routing. Pauli

You may also want to dowse the pulley/clutch assembly with WD-40 so the pulley will freewheel till you get it home.

DEWFPO
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1998 S90 068,300 and 1995 964 152,300

Removing power to the clutch by pulling the fuse should free it up, so it appears to be a virtually total mechanical failure. Can she have the clutch freed by a mechanic to get it home?

She's having AAA tow it to a shop in the a.m. to try and free it. He (the mechanic) mentioned he may try bypassing the compressor with a shorter belt. Not my first choice of bodge, but I can't see why it won't work for the 240 mile trip back home, eh? I'm not sure if the belt-path is a clear one. Sometimes these small town shop hands can be pretty creative. I restore old tractors and have seen field fixes that verge on brilliance and shine with ignorant bliss. "Why'd you do that?" "'Cause nobody said I couldn't!" Thanks for the speedy replies, people. All help is good help.