I have a '98 Dodge Ram Van (shorty van) 1500 with the 3.9 engine. 98,000 miles. Bought it used about 3 years ago. Other than following a/c problem, best vehicle I"ve owned so far (and I've owned a lot).

Clutch seized up on my A/C compressor and discovered that defroster is connected to compressor. Wondering if there is any way to bypass the compressor so I can use defroster?
Hopefully won't need defroster for awhile but thinking ahead in case I don't get new compressor before winter.

 

I don't understand...what's going on with the clutch/compressor? Is it spinning, did you bypass it with a shorter belt, etc.?

 

No, did not change belt. I am able to use same regular belt. Pulley is turning ok but when I turn switch to A/C the clutch will not engage. Pulley keeps turning but clutch will not turn. It looks like it wants to turn; it moves maybe a 1/4 inch and that's it. Within seconds that clutch gets too hot to touch.

Friend told me he thinks clutch shaft is seized in compressor, meaning I would need a new compressor. He tried to turn clutch (engine off) with a giant channel lock plier and clutch would not budge.

Also when I turn switch to "defrost", same thing happens. Someone told me that the A/C comp/clutch is used for "defrost" too, that way the comp gets used in the winter time. Never knew that until this past winter when I needed defrost.

 

Ah okay, so the compressor seized up, not the clutch, that makes more sense. There's a 2-wire plug going to the front of the compressor...unplug it. Once it's unplugged you can use the defrost (or any other switch position) without the clutch trying to engage.

 

Found wire, unhooked it and that did the trick. Thank you very much.
I should have known that because a couple years ago, compressor seized up a Explorer I had, only nothing would spin on that, not even pulley and I disconnected wire on that.
But on this one the pulley would spin so that threw me off. Thanks again.

 

man, you got no ac now - replace the compressor! it's hot out there!

 

Ah, he's in Wisconsin so the heat isn't that bad. Actually in the past week the over night low was 67 degrees.

 

Actually the other morning the low here was 40 degrees when I checked, after freezing my tail off.
I converted my conversion van into a temporary camper van; took out middle seats, put air mattress on rear seat/bed and temporarily installed cabinet between drivers seat and rear bed, for my gear.
This is for camping at the upcoming Iola Old Car Show for 4 days.
So I slept in it a few nights to check it out. (I'm taking along a couple extra blankets). After first night I added air mattress, tight fit in length, but it fits.

One plus about broken A/C in Dodge van is that it's keeping the miles off. On hot days my wife now drives out spare S10 that has working A/C (:.