AC compressor replacement

clutch making noise. have briefly looked at it for replacement. looks like i will have to take out fans and maybe rad to get it out of there and maybe coil pack. wonder if i can slip it out of that tight spot without removing the exhaust manifold? looking to see if someone has done this job, prolly wont do it until it warms up a bit. thanks

btw 97 lesabre

I replaced clutch plate on a '99, 97 may be different. Just jacked it up, took wheel off and worked on it from underneath. It only made noise when it was not engaged, so I was pretty sure it was only the clutch plate, so I didnt have to take off the whole compressor.

This sounds like classic v-5 clutch drag- the air gap has tightened (due to corrosion) and needs to be adjusted back to .020" . I have answered this several times- and usually see about 1 a week during the hot season. The noise is a scrapping/rattle only with a/c off- should see signs of metal shavings about the clutch hub. The fix is to borrow the installer/removal tool from autozone and back off the air gap a tad. This can be done on car, without removing compressor or refrigerant, and can even be done without removing the shaft nut since the nut does not bottom on the clutch drive. Pull back the plastic cover in wheel well to access

ya it only makes noise when ac in not on. yes metal filings around clutch area. will there be too much damage already to adjust it rather than replace.

I've probably adjusted over a hundred in my life- never had one come back with any adverse effects- go ahead and adjust it- that is the simplest, easiest, and least expensive fix. Many shops will try to replace the entire compressor for any number of reasons. The key to this complaint is knowing the exact cause and failure mode- which I have researched extensively. All V-5 compressors on all their applications acrosss many GM models (and some others) are prone to this problem.