New to the group! Need help desperately within the next few days, please. I have a 1995 Cadillac Seville STS and I love my car. We've been through a good deal of fights and I think I know just about every problem that can possibly occur with it now. It has 220,000 miles and the only permanent problems that I haven't fixed and I hear are quite common with these cars, is the suspension and oil leaks.

My Help Matter-- Recently, I began hearing a sort of buzzing noise from under the hood near where the alternator is located I figured the alternator was going out and the belt already needed to be replaced. So, I went and changed the alternator, which in itself was a major job with just a floor jack.

Needless to say, the alternator is now changed and the noise is still there. I talked to a few people regarding the symptoms and they say it's probably my A/C compressor pulley or my A/C compartment clutch assembly. I would be most appreciative if anyone here in the group could diagnose my problem via this e-mail.

Some symptoms: I noticed that when I turn on the A/C inside the car, the noise will subside. When I'll go out for a ride and run the A/C, I'll come back and there is a very distinctive, strong smell coming from the compressor pulley area.

A local mechanic told me that I probably need to change the A/C compartment clutch (or something to that effect). So, what do you guys suggest and if I do need to change that part, is it a HUGE job and will I need any special tools to get it done? Also, can you guys tell me the exact parts I'll need to change so taht I can ask for the parts by name and obtain them from a salvage yard so that I don't have to go bankrupt going through the dealership just to fix the old gal. Thanks and much appreciated ahead of time!

New to the group! Need help desperately within the next few days, please. I have a 1995 Cadillac Seville STS and I love my car. We've been through a good deal of fights and I think I know just about every problem that can possibly occur with it now. It has 220,000 miles and the only permanent problems that I haven't fixed and I hear are quite common with these cars, is the suspension and oil leaks.

My Help Matter-- Recently, I began hearing a sort of buzzing noise from under the hood near where the alternator is located I figured the alternator was going out and the belt already needed to be replaced. So, I went and changed the alternator, which in itself was a major job with just a floor jack.

Needless to say, the alternator is now changed and the noise is still there. I talked to a few people regarding the symptoms and they say it's probably my A/C compressor pulley or my A/C compartment clutch assembly. I would be most appreciative if anyone here in the group could diagnose my problem via this e-mail.

Some symptoms: I noticed that when I turn on the A/C inside the car, the noise will subside. When I'll go out for a ride and run the A/C, I'll come back and there is a very distinctive, strong smell coming from the compressor pulley area.

A local mechanic told me that I probably need to change the A/C compartment clutch (or something to that effect). So, what do you guys suggest and if I do need to change that part, is it a HUGE job and will I need any special tools to get it done? Also, can you guys tell me the exact parts I'll need to change so taht I can ask for the parts by name and obtain them from a salvage yard so that I don't have to go bankrupt going through the dealership just to fix the old gal. Thanks and much appreciated ahead of time!

From what you write, and since I am not there to see for myself, I must assume that your mechanic is correct with his diagnosis. A car with 220K miles is likely due for an A/C compressor anyway if you don't know for sure that it has been replaced in the past. You can purchase a remanufactured A/C compressor with clutch from most any auto parts store or from ebay. You should always replace the receiver/dryer when the system is evacuated. Once the new parts are installed, the system will need to have a vacuum pulled on it to dry any moisture (from air entering in). Your mechanic should know how to draw a vacuum on an A/C system and recharge it once you have replaced the compressor and receiver/dryer. Do not wait a couple days between the installation and charge though. Try to organize a time with your mechanic to bring it in as soon as possible after the part(s) replacement. It is not a "huge" job but does require some tools you may not have such as a quick disconnect tool for the compression fittings. Good Luck!

I have changed my compressor in the past (last 3 years or so). My mechanic diagnosed this problem over the phone (gave me a very likely scenario). Could the problem be that only the clutch assembly needs to be changed or is the compressor part of the clutch assembly that needs changing. I've changed almost everything on my car under the hood recently so everything but that is pretty much brand new.

Also, right before I had this problem with my compressor making noise, the blowers inside my car stopped working except for the upper dash near the windshield. Last time this occurred, my mechanic played around with the plug under the hood and it worked again. But he said my blower motor was probably going out. My QUESTION is: While my blower motor went out and I was still using the air conditioner constantly, could that have fried my compressor???

The clutch can be changed seperately from the compressor if that is the problem and can be done with the compressor in the car without discharging the freon.

Running the A/C without a blower motor will not "fry" the compressor.