Replace the belt and tensioner -- cheaper than a new compressor!

There is a speed sensor on the compressor, and it if slows down, the Klima relay will drop it off and leave it off until the engine is restarted. This is to protect the belt since there is only one, and you will get severe engine overheat without a fan belt.

I would also check the fuse for the aux fan -- if bad, the high side pressure can go pretty high, cause the belt to slip, and shut the compressor off.

Sadly, it could also be a compressor on the way out.

Could also be what happened to the "spare" I'm working on -- front seal leak caused the rubber in the clutch to fail, so compressor won't turn properly. That would account for the "bark", too. Won't last long, the rubber shreds.

I'd check the belt first, since that is more likely to be the problem than anything else. A dead belt tensioner will let you run so long as it's fairly cool, but let the belt slip as it heats up.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!