Well it was hot today, about 95 degrees. I had stopped at my brothers house for a quick visit, maybe 25 minutes, so i left the car running with the AC on. It was cool when I hopped in the car but then I noticed it wasn't blowing cool air almost immediately as I started down the road. I had it on the 3rd fan setting on the coldest setting with recirculation on. So i put it to the 4th setting and almost as soon as i did that I could smell to me what smelled like a stuck brake caliper. Then blue smoke started to come through the vents inside the car. So i then shut the AC and fan off and continued home. I tried the AC when i got home and nothing. You could hear and feel the idle change like the pump turned on with the button but I wasn't getting cool air? It sounded to me like the clutch engaged but I didn't get a smell or any smoke. But that's as far as i went with it. I didn't check pressure or look for a clutch engagement or anything yet. Any input or ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

I am no a/c tech but I dont think the smoke would come through the vents if compressor locked. If you can feel idle change when you turn a/c on is seems as though compressor is working. Is the blower still working? Just spit balling.

 

I would look at it first to see if it is turning and where smoke is coming from. Smoke could work it's way into the cabin through the air vent under the cowl.

 

The blower fan burnt out! Remove the cabin air filter and inspect

 

Well i looked at it this morning and the clutch does not spin. Bummer. I'm going to assume it's the compressor all together. Im gonna rule out the blower motor cause it still blows air on all 4 settings just fine. Im guessing the smell must have been a clutch inside the compressor. Can you do the compressor without moving the subframe?

 

Yep, blower fan. It was on recirculation, so it wouldn't be smoke from any exterior source.

 

I feel like if it was the blower motor wouldn't it run weird or sound funny? Why would the blower motor stop the ac clutch from spinning?

EDIT: And if it was the blower motor wouldn't i have issues with the fan speed controls?

 

You can swap out the compressor without dropping the sub frame