The common use of such logic says that if the compressor clutch is bad maybe I should replace the whole car. With interest rates and rebates, it may be possible to drive a car and never pay for a repair.

I'm too old for such logic. Good compressors don't come with a clutch so there is no reason to replace what hasn't failed.

Black death is most common on rebuilt Nippondenso compressors. one of the worse things that can happen to a good AC is to replace the compressor with a POS rebuilt for such logic or cause it leaks and wind up installing a rebuilt can of black death disguised as a cheap rebuilt.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician