My daughter 2000 Caravan landed with a seized A/C , Pulley was so hot it melted the serpentine belt.
1. How can I tell if it is the compressor or the clutch.
2. Can I use a different belt and bypass the A/c until next summer
Thanks
Rick

 

Hi Rick--it could be either since I think the clutch bearing runs on the neck of the compressor. It really dosen't matter much since you can buy a rebuilt assembly for the same price as repairing the clutch. They sell an idler pulley that will bolt up in place of the compressor. Off hand, I wouldn't try to bypass the compressor with a different belt since that routing is pretty well engineered to make sure the other pulleys have the correct wrap.