Is there fluid in the a/c compressor clutch?

[chevyaddict]

Dawn, I presume you have the Factory Service Manuals for your car. Your a/c won't work if the freon gets low enough that the internal gas pressure goes below about 30 psi (engine off and cool). Because there's probably still internal pressure in your system, you need special procedures and tools to work safely and protect the environment. If you've really lost all of your refrigerant, and the system has been empty for a year, you may also have internal corrosion that will cause many other problems. Your a/c shop will be able to evaluate whether this is a potential problem, and that may be why their price for the repair is so high! Read up on the procedures in the FSM so you can ask them the right questions, and have them explain their prices. Good luck on the repair. Hopefully, you've found an honest shop that won't take you for a ride!
By the way, the oil that's splattered on the underside of your hood from the leaky seal needs to be thoroughly cleaned off. It will eventually penetrate thru your fiberglass (really SMC) and cause blisters in your paint!

Yes, I knew that about the low pressure. Its a safety thing to ensure the system doesn't get damaged. I DIDN'T know about the bleedthrough though so I will go out there right now and clean that off! Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[ecss]

Melting of the clutch coil windings on a Nippondenso compressor is common.

Smells like rubber or plastic burning. An indication is a black goo oozes out of the clutch coil area.

You can easily remove the clutch coil for inspection in 15 minutes. The 10 mm bolt that holds
the cliutch on is only torqued to 10 ft lbs. Break it loose and slip the serpentine belt off the pulley. Use snap ring pliers and remove two snap rings.

This video shows the clutch removal. To remove the clutch coil you remove a 2nd
snap ring which is not shown in the video. Don't lose the clutch plate air gap shims.

Denso 10PA clutch bearing replacement - YouTube

 

[Hot Rod Roy]

That would be good news if you only need a clutch and a can of refrigerant! Have you tried to actuate the clutch? With engine running and a/c control on max a/c, disconnect the low pressure switch (probably located near your a/c coil on the firewall). Install a jumper wire between the two contacts in the connector. The clutch should kick in. Do you still have some refrigerant pressure in the system? Borrow that pressure gauge from somewhere to check your system pressure before you start the engine. You may have just saved $1,200! If you need R-12 refrigerant, it's available on eBay!

 

[chevyaddict]

Hmmm, I'll have to check all this out! I'll let everyone know as soon as I get a moment to get the gauge and work on it!