Belt routing

[nequamminor]

I have a 96 Grand prix with the 3.1 and the A/C compressor clutch is going out. It locks up and will occasionally spin very slowly, and that's where that ends. I've been told however that I can just buy a shorter belt that can skip the A/C compressor. Looking under the hood though it looks like it just wont hit the water pump at all. It looks like it'd go straight up from the bottom to the power steering pump and just barely touch the water pump, if at all. Has anyone tried this before with a '96 GP sedan with the 3.1? I can buy a bypass pulley for the compressor, or get another compressor from someone for 30 bucks, but I don't know about the whole recharging issue. Also my radiator is extremely nasty, 1/2 inch of gunk on the radiator cap and the coolant itself looks brown and very nasty. Hopefully no oil in it and its just the almighty Dex-cool. Any advice or pointers you guys have would be great. Thanks in advance.

[SappySE107]

I know you can just bypass it on the older 3.1. If you want to bypass the AC, just remove the compressor and use an idler pulley. There is one readily available from dorman I believe.

[tractorman]

Exactly how is it locking up? Does the pulley spin free, and it only locks up when the clutch engages? Or is the pulley bearing itself going bad?

'cause if it's only having a problem when the clutch engages... the just unplug the clutch and you're good to go unless/until you get around to putting a compressor on it. The pulley runs on its own separate bearing.

[nequamminor]

It makes kind of a hissing noise, and its constantly locked up solid for the most part but will occasionally twitch, or turn maybe 1/8 or so. When I turned on the A/C i guess it turned really slow and made a loud squeal. I think its just the clutch because theres a lot of metallic shavings on the outer plate thing of the pulley. I dont know for sure if its just a bearing, or a clutch, or what. When the A/C is on though like i said it spins really slowly and makes kind of a screeching noise. If there's any more info I can give you let me know. I'm really at a loss as far as what is wrong with it.

[tractorman]

Sounds like your compressor is locked up internally. The compressor itself can be locked up, but the pulley bearing can still work fine.

Take the belt loose, and make sure that the pulley will turn freely with the a/c shut off. If it will, and you just want to be able to drive the car, then unplug the wires to the a/c compressor so that your clutch can't kick in, put the belt back on, and you're good to go. It's kinda like those silly "a/c delete" pulleys except that you don't have to change any parts or pay any money.

[nequamminor]

I don't think it'll help although I'll try it. The belt/pulley is constantly squealing/hissing and it'll twitch like it wants to spin but wont. If it would spin freely when the a/c was off wouldn't the belt spin on the pulley just fine? It's kinda hard to explain but it seems even when the a/c is off that the pulley is locked up.

[tractorman]

Well, if that's the case- that the pulley itself is not turning even when the compressor is not engaged... then I've been talkin' out my ass this whole time. Completely disregard my previous advice.

Do a search or three on this site. I know I've read more than once that you can put a shorter belt on these engines and just bypass the compressor altogether. Haven't done so myself, but I know I've read about it.

There's also and a/c delete pulley available... back to that search.

[tractorman]

Also, see the "f'ing dexcool" thread for cooling system advice. Maybe I'll get it right this time.

[86euro]

If you end up replacing the compressor with a used one, don't waste your money having it recharged. The case seals on that model are VERY bad for leaking.

[tractorman]

You can order a seal kid for them on the Advance Auto Parts website. I resealed my '96 Achieva's compressor with good results.

[Carlspike]

I had a 96 3100 with a shorter belt on it. It didn't wrap around the water pump the same but I never had a problem with it. I'm not sure about the part number though, so I would take tractorman's advice and do a search to see if you can find it.