The A/C compressor on my 2002 Grand Caravan, 3.3L, seized, and the replacement is real expensive. Dodge doesn't sell a bypass pulley, and the belt routing doesn't seem to allow for a short belt/bypass solution. But A/C is an option on Caravans, so how do they bypass the compressor on those? What options do I have besides shelling some big bucks?

Thanks.

--Marc

 

Hi marc
There is a TSB 24-004-04 that extends the warranty 7 years or 70k for 2001 to 2003 A/C compressors. You may want to ck with your local before its to late, unless you are over 70k. If its not covered. ck on a reman compressor.

 

Simply pull out the A/C clutch relay, or the fuse, from the fuse box. This will disable the clutch on the compressor.

This will let the clutch freewheel just like when you have the A/C off.

Now if by "compressor is seized" you mean that the compressor AND clutch are both seized, then you need to replace it. If you don't need A/C, just buy a junk compressor for $5 from a junkyard or Craigslist, most bad compressors don't have a seized clutch.

 

The van has 97000, so no warranty :-(.

The mechanic said that the compressor was seized internally, but the pulley shaft broke. So while the pulley still turns and the van runs fine, there's a loud grinding coming from the compressor. And sometimes the grinding stops and everything seems fine.

So I don't really know if the clutch is bad. I'll try the fuse tonight. If that doesn't work, the junkyard compressor sounds like my best solution. I hardly ever turn the A/C on and was more than willing to get a bypass idler. A junk compressor is even cheaper than that.

Thanks!