I recharged my AC using one of those home charge kits available at auto parts stores. It worked for a little while, then stopped. I checked again, and it showed low pressure. I added more, and it didn't work. I check one more time, and the pressure was high, at 60psi. I haven't done anything with it in the mean time, but i've had some hard starts and some squealing from under the hood at and a little after startup.

Then today, on the drive home from pittsburgh, I stopped for gas. When i tried to start the car again, it made a wicked squealing sound and smoked from the engine compartment. feeling around, the AC belt was the hottest, and was the source of the smoke. I started it the second time, and it worked. Before i closed the hood, i noticed the front of the AC compressor was spinning - the opposite direction of belt rotation.

Any ideas what happened?