This past week driving home (83 300sd) the A/C quit blowing cold. I pull over and the belt is missing and the clutch electrical cables are hanging loose - when I get home I find the clutch electrical connectors are broken loose from the clutch and still attached to the wire - the belt must had whipped around and broke it.

Recent work on A/C - recently had a mechanic/friend reclaim the original R12 and flush system - replaced expansion valve - blows really cold - no noise from compressor.

Im thinking it was a bad A/C belt - the clutch spins freely - I can spin the front of the clutch (plate) by hand - I dont think the compressor went bad - I never heard any noise like a belt burning or squealing.

So my question is - can I pull the clutch and just replace it ???
I really dont want the pull the ENTIRE compressor because my friend/mechanic is out of town for at least three weeks and I'd lose all that expensive r12 - in addition to burning up the ozone layer (maybe).

Im handy enough - I did all the work on the a/c except reclaim and recharge - is this something that is fairly easy to do with the compressor in the car????

Thanks in advance..

__________________
Thomas

2003 Jetta TDi
1983 300SD
1999 Ford Contour - died - Oil pump
1998 Chevy Blazer - money pit
1997 Toyota Corolla - wrecked
1983 Honda Civic - still on the road
1980 Datsun 310 - long dead
1976 Ford Granada - my 1st car - best A/C ever


"Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony."

I do believe you can pull it in place.
MB has a paper AC manual which may show that..
but I am sure that working on it with it held on a bench is much easier....
You might have to remove the radiator to do it in place...
Or you might figure out a new way and be a hero around here...
be sure to take good pictures to share as you do any of this......