Went for a haircut (4-5 miles from home). Left the place and about 2 miles up the road I thought I smelled an electrical fire smell. Didn’t see any smoke, so thought it was another vehicle. Then I noticed the AC flow was warming up.

Got home and popped the hood and smelled the odor strongly. I noticed something black spattered on the alternator, which I assume is melted plastic. The pulley was still spinning by the serpentine belt, and I can spin the clutch by hand.

I know the clutch needs to be replaced. Do you think that’s wise, or ahould I have the system evacuated and just replace the entire compressor? It’s the stock unit- almost 174K miles.

I am tempted, but after dropping big $$$ on timing chain and cover, rear end rebuild, water pump, fan clutch, U-joints, L & R front wheel hubs (and one or two things I can’t recall), I would rather spend less than $100 on replacing the clutch. I just have a nagging feeling it’s a band-aid, but a cimpressor, accumulator and evac/recharge is a little $$$ compared to just a clutch.

Ever see one fry like that?

Any idea where to locate one? I’m not finding anything on the Internet. I see up to 2002 and then I think from 2008 & up.

It's a Denso 10S17E. Found one for $137 and change. Not too many options.

I made my own to hold it so the nut can be removed. I just had it off months ago to replace the pulley bearing.

Went to rem & repl the clutch this morning. Removed the bolt and hub easily. The snap ring for the pulley was full of burnt clutch. It was a PITA to get off but I finally got the snap ring pliers in the holes and removed it. The pulley took a few taps with a soft-faced hammer and slid off.

Went to remove the coil and saw the compressor shaft was cracked from the 12:00 to 6:00 position at the snap ring groove. So a clutch change is now a new compressor, accumulator, etc..

it was dead in the driveway so had to have it towed. Damn.