My buddy has a 2004 Silverado 1500. The AC was only blowing ambient air. I figured How hard can this be? Figuring it was low on refrigerant, auto parts store ...

My buddy has a 2004 Silverado 1500. The AC was only blowing ambient air. I figured "How hard can this be?"

Figuring it was low on refrigerant, auto parts store trip one consisted of getting some R134a.
Got back, followed the instructions and 30 minutes later it was still blowing warm air.
Scratched head and looked deeper.

After seeing the AC belt was broken, auto parts store trip two consisted of attempting to get a new AC belt and serpentine belt. No luck.
Auto parts store trip three brought us to another store who asked us which size alternator was in the truck, as there are two different size serpentine belts. Scratched head and decided to take both belts and a "universal" loaner fan clutch tool set.
Got back, "universal" fan clutch tool set didn't have the size we needed and both serpentine belts were too long.

Auto parts store trip four was to return the two incorrect belts and the fan clutch tool, and to get the correct belt (we brought the old one with us this time) and to get the "other" universal loaner fan clutch tool set.
Got back, fan clutch tool worked great, installed AC belt and serpentine belt, put everything back together.
Started truck, white smoke and burning rubber smell. The smoke stopped when the new AC belt snapped.
More head scratching.

Checked the pulley on the AC compressor and it spins freely. Any ideas what's going on?

Auto parts store trip number five was to return the fan clutch tool kit.

Sorry for the long post. It was one of those days and I just felt like venting.
Thanks for reading.

Did you check the ac pulley while the clutch was engaged?

You can do this my starting the engine and hitting the ac button. Then trying to turn the ac compressor. Just be careful of the main belt as that will obviously be spinning.

Thanks for the reply!
I didn't think of checking it while the clutch was engaged.
I will give it a try.

Yeah if you don't engage the clutch the outer part will just spin free even if the compressor is locked up.


Also, a safer way to test it is it apply 12v to the clutch directly. That way you don't need to worry about getting something caught in the belt.

That makes sense, now that I think about it.

I'll put 12v to it and check it out. I like the idea of keeping my fingers, too

Thanks for the help.

Update:

Thank you, 19trax95! You nailed it.
Compressor locks up when 12v is applied to it.
I appreciate your help.

OK, so what is planned for trip #6: Auto parts store for a new compressor and then gas station?

LOL...I'm leaving that up to my buddy.
He's not sure if he wants to spend the money on a new compressor, but if he does, I'll change it out for him.
And if that happens, I'm sure I'll be posting here with more questions and issues

What does an AC compressor cost?

I checked it out online. Looks like they are around $250.
If it was my truck, I would be replacing it tomorrow.
My buddy is kind of....um....cheap.