First post here but have been a lurker for some time now. I generally don't post as most questions I have I can find the answer when searched. However today is different lol.
A little history first! I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan with no AC. It has a few minor repairs. I have changed engine oil pan, whole brake system and front end shocks with ball joints. Basically usual wear and tear stuff to expect (it has 289 000 Km on it) Still has original motor and tranny however
The only thing not working on it is the AC. I cannot turn the pully on the AC clutch so that leads me to believe the compressor is seized. I am not sure how long is has not run so can I expect more than the clutch/compressor to be damaged? Or am I looking at possible Condenser/ Evap failure as well? I don't want to plunge more money than I have to in this van, but it would be a nice feature during the summer lol.
Also can I remove the Clutch/Compressor and still run the van? The AC system on the 2000 3.0L is a complete separate belt and pully system.
Thanks in advance!

 

Just remove the belt, the compressor won't hurt anything hanging there. The evaperators were a known leak source on that van. Most of the time the leak would cause the system to get low on oil and then the compressor would blow. You can lower the glove box. Behind it there is a large grommet in the hvac housing for the evap temp probe. Remove the grommet and examine the evaperator. If it is leaking, you will know. Then you would need a compressor, filter/drier, evaperator and I would also replace the h-valve but that is up to you.

 

I've got a 92 Caravan with the 3.0, so presumably similar to yours. The AC compressor is on its own belt, and you can remove it and operate normally. The AC compressor clutch went out on mine about two years ago in the fall, so it got left off until spring time when I really needed the AC again. :-) The issue with mine is that the compressor clutch had given up the ghost. The guy that worked on it had years of experience working on ones like mine...even had a 93 that he was still driving. He explained how it all worked...the compressor is a fancy variable type unit so it doesn't have to engage and disengage so much. The clutch has two metal plates with rubber in between them that somehow (I forget all the details now) engages and disengages. He was able to replace just the clutch on mine without re-doing everything else...which was good as it still has a R-12 charge! So...if it is the clutch and not the whole compressor, you should be able to change it out. Wesley

 

Thanks for the quick responses guys. I know for a fact that there is no refrigerant left in the system so I went ahead and removed the compressor. Which made it much easier to work on, as I was able to un-seize the clutch. It now runs very smooth. I am going to go out on a limb here and presume that the reason the belt had been removed was either because
A: There was no refrigerant left in the system
B: The compressor is indeed burnt
C: The condenser is leaking (going to check that tomorrow)
If B is the culprit, how would I go about finding out?
The previous owner knows nothing about why the mechanic removed the belt or just does not remember. I asked if I could have his number only to find out he has in fact died. Maybe he inhaled the refrigerant?