How soon should I get my car's broken airconditioning repaired to avoid damage to the engine.?

Question

I have an Astra 1.6 Club. My garage tells me that, when the airconditioning is switched on, it stalls the engine. The garage says it is not sufficient just to avoid switching the airconditioning on as, even if this avoided, eventually the broken airconditioning system could damage the engine. Is the garage right? How soon should I get the problem fixed?

Answer 1

Sounds to me like you need to change garages. About the only thing that could happen it the bearings in the A/C pulley could fail which could break the belt, which could keep the water pump from turning (but I think the water pump is driven by the timing belt on yours) causing the engine to overheat.

Answer 2

The aircon is run by a belt around a pulley - probably the same belt that runs everything else. When you switch the aircon on, a clutch engages between this pulley and the compressor. Conceiveably the compressor is seized, or more likely partly so, which is what "drags" the engine down when you try it. If the belt tries to drive something which is seized, it will slip, cook and eventually break, then you'll lose everything else driven by that belt - alternator, water pump etc.

That's all that will happen, the only connection between the aircon and the engine is that belt. As long as you keep it switched off you'll have no trouble - unless the bearings on the actual pulley fail.

Answer 3

Depends what the damage is. If you keep running eventually the ac compressor clutch (which is what you switch on and off) may jam and try to spin the compressor. If this is also faulty you could get quite a bit of damage to other parts. It is possible to get a different drive belt that will connect the engine, generator, &c without going round the ac pulley. That would be a safe option till you can afford to get the thing fixed

Answer 4

sounds like the compressor is locked up. it will try to engage when you use the ac or the window defroster, and therefor load up the engine and stall it. you can just remove the drive belt for it and go without ac until you can replace it.
I truly doubt if you'll hurt your engine by not replacing it, but it could be a safety factor while driving and have it load up the engine (engage while frozen) .

Answer 5

i have farmland in the middle of a swamp to sell you if youre interested.. LOL all jokes aside, never go back to that mechanic again. ac will not ruin the engine. The worst thing that can happen is that the compressor locks up and you cook the belt. Big deal.

Answer 6

Your air conditioning unit is independent of the engine. The only way it could impact the engine is if the clutch locked and the drive belt was unable to turn.

Answer 7

i had a Monte Carlo in the 70's that had the air conditioner go out....back then they had a separate belt that ran to the air conditioner, but i am sure these days your engine only has one belt running everything....air conditioner, alternator, fan, etc....if it is like the older models and the clutch goes out on the air conditioner unit it will tear your belt up and possibly do some major engine damage to the valves. i would be very careful until you know for sure.

Answer 8

the air condition pump has a magnetic clutch,only when you switch on the air conditioning on the pump will run.if the switch is off then the pulley drive will only run on its bearing,no damage to the engine nor anything Else

Answer 9

They're pulling your leg!
If you don't turn the air con on all that will happen is you'll get too hot - you won't damage the engine!
Sounds like they are REALLY desperate for the business!

Answer 10

I'd find a different garage. As long as you leave the a/c off it wont tear anything up on the motor.