my ac compressor started knocking a couple months or so ago. im guessing this means it has failed? my truck still runs completely fine, so im guessing the ac compressor is something that isnt vital to my truck? its about 250$ to replace, which i would rather not do because i dont really care about AC that much. i just want the knock to go away...it makes my truck sound like POS and i hate when people keep telling me it "sounds like a rod knock". it does sound like a rod but its definitely the compressor. any way to make the sound stop? its driving me insane...
some one told me i should just pull the compressor out and replace the belt with a shorter one...would that even work??

 

You should be able to short belt it without any issues. Remember that the air also works during the defrost mode to remove humidity from the cab and keep windows clear as well.

 

The easiest thing to do would be to unplug it and zip tie the plug up somewhere. Then it won't engage at all. You won't have to find a smaller belt either.

I have done this on a few vehicles as AC is not a necessity where I live.

 

could just be the clutch is bad.

 

grizzstang; i will definitely look into that, sounds easy. im just sick of hearing the knocking...

jethat; how would i be able to tell if that was the problem? is that easy to fix?

 

If the noise happens all the time even when the a/c is off its likely the clutch... The clutch is about $100 not super hard to remove it and no recharge is required.

 

yep it always makes the noise, on and off.
interesting...for now, im just going to disconnect it completely. i actually just tried to do that but the clip doesnt want to budge..

 

if its the clutch the noise wont go away when you pull the plug..

 

youre kidding. if i completely unplug this thing so that its fully disengaged, the noise will still be there? how does that work?

 

the clutch bearing always spins.. the clutch engages to turn on the compressor. Bad bearing noise all the time. Eventually it will seize compressor will be on all the time causing it to seize.. Engine will freeze not start because of frozen ac pump..

 

AHHH well thats bad news :/
now i hope its not the clutch...
any physical signs to prove its the clutch or nah?

 

its pretty self explanatory. the compressor doesn't spin when the clutch is not engaged. If you have a noise when the compressor is not engaged its the clutch..

 

ugh, thats no fun. well thanks for all the knowledge

 

oh, one last question. you said my engine will eventually not start due to the compressor siezing? what will happen if i decide to take it out completely and just use a shorter belt? nothing?

 

Its better if its the clutch then the compressor. Luck you dont have a dodge. they dont sell just the clutch for those gotta get a compressor if the clutch goes bad. Did that a couple years ago with the kids dodge. got the clutch off and could not find one anywhere. Had to get a pump out of a junk yard. A whole pump in a junk yards only about $80 then you gotta juice it up. They say you should have that done professionally but I just did it myself and it worked great..