So at the beginning of the summer my AC was blowing warm. Dealership found no leaks with UV dye, recharged, sent me on my way. A couple weeks later, blowing warm again. Dealership checked, found leaking compressor. Estimate: $1150, lifetime warranty. I decided to wait, knowing of a place that everyone goes to for AC work. -Turns out they went out of business 3 years ago. The dealership at least recharged the system, so I had working cooling again, for a while at least.

On my way to work yesterday, I heard a squealing/howling noise. Checked it out at lunch, -AC compressor. Oil sprayed around nearby parts from the compressor.

I figured it might fail and lock up on the way home. It did. Belt shredded. Pulled over, called AAA, got a tow to the nearest GM dealer (happens to be a Chevrolet dealer).

When your car has ONE BELT and any of the spinning round thingies connected to it is failing and you know about it, GET IT FIXED.

So much for trying to save a buck.

I took photos too, of the belt carnage. I'll post tonight.
-Mark

All that I can say is....OUCH!!!!

It sux to learn the hard way

thats just what happened to PeteG22000 on the way back from NEBF. we had to replace it on the side of the road.

$250 part.... not fun...

Chevrolet shop can't get to it until Monday. I'm having it towed to my local Pontiac dealer, where I had an appointment to get it fixed today. I went to Autozone and got a Gatorback belt and dropped it off, because I don't like the GM belt, they crack all over in less than a year. *sigh*

Let'* just hope that when your compressor grenaded, it didn't fill the discharge line with crap. That will usually indicate a need to replace the condenser also. Of course for that price they quoted you, it should include a new condenser anyway.

Good choice on the Gatorback belt, IMO.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal, Mark. We all live & learn through not always good judgement. Been there, done that. That $1150 quote sounds a bit steep. It must be the Mr. GoodWrench plan. If the goodwrench compressor fails again, you get free replacement, no parts or labor charges. I think that'* how it works.

UH OH mine has been pooched for a while.Guess I better start searching.

I think i remember seeing a thread around here some where that explained who to re-route your belt so that it wouldn't use the compressor? That could buy someone time while they shop around for a new compressor...

*EDIT - here'* the link. I may just have to do this myself soon...

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ompressor+belt

Update: Despite my AC compressor being leaky, what actually failed was the belt tensioner. (I know we've seen this before.) -and when it locked up and the belt shredded, it took out the power steering pump reservoir, ripping a hole in part of it -that apparently is part of the cooling jacket? So I also need a belt tensioner and a power steering pump.

Ah well, if there'* any silver lining, it'* that I didn't destroy it by waiting to replace the AC compressor. Yay me?