2nd Gen A/C compressor

Hello Taco world. 2011 4 bangers. A/C compressor clutch chatters when engaged. Still blowing cold air. Any harm in running it. I refrain from using, thinking it may seize and cause other belt and pulley issues. What do all think. Thanks in advance.

 

Buy a spare belt, and keep it handy.

My OEM compressor locked up at 115K miles. I could turn the AC off and the truck ran quietly. If I engaged the AC it would squeal like a pig (ba bing bing bing bing ba bing). I brought it to a local AC shop, and they quoted me $2041 to rebuild the AC system.

I balked at $2K, so I bought the parts and tools, including a a Denso ( 471-1293) compressor from Amazon. The total for tools and parts was $1122, but the Amazon seller shipped me a compressor that had been returned - defective - by some other schmuck. It made all kinds of weird bearing noises when it was engaged. I was about to make a 1600 mile trip, and didn't have time to screw with it again, so I hired the local AC shop to replace the compressor, purge and recharge the system. They slapped in some no name brand for $1325, but it has been working OK for the last two years.

So, instead of paying $2041, I paid $2179 ($2447-$268), but I now have a vacuum pump and gauges...

 

Maybe @AR15xAR10 can sell you his

 

Negative. The one on my 2013 is going bad so I will have to switch to my spare