Ok last week my Air Conditioning just up and stopped. Now one day my air was ice cold! , and the next day it just stopped working all together. The air doesn't even get cold, just stay's warm. And yes the button is pushed in and the dial is turned and the AC light comes on. But 2 things happen that are weird when i turn it on. One I don't feel a power drain from the engine but you can hear the engine making a different noise when its turned on. And two a whistleing noise is heard from the vents? (never did this before). This whistle also happens now when I put the defroster on without the AC being on (once again never happened before the AC quit). What could be wrong?

 

definatly sounds like a physical problem with the compressor. Did you lose the belt perhaps? There are a myriad of systems to keep the car running smoothly while the compressor is draining power from the car. If the compressor is not turning due to a dead belt, those systems are still working, but instead of compensating for the drag of the compressor, are simply doing odd things to your engine.

 

Ok... compressor damage.... everyone agrees....

The Whisteling is that you need the gas

 

So lets say it is compressor damage :

A.) What kinda $$$ are we talking to get it replaced?
B.) It's not harming anything else is it?

Thanks for the help.

 

Look in the phone book, find a auto place that will look at your AC for free. Then when you know the problem, call around and find who can fix it for cheapest, or if you can do it yourself, then do it.

 

FIRST thing you need to do is run the car with the air on... MAKE SURE the belt is working properly and so is the electoclutch that engages the compressor. I am willing to bet that if the belt is fine.. it is the clutch that died.. either the plug came undone or it simply fried

 

How can I tell if the electroclutch is engageing properly? And where is it?