Diagnosing ac system repair

hi all. lurked for a long long time because my 2006 has never had anything go wrong with it. now my ac squeels like a stuck pig when its turned on which lasts for about 4 seconds then it turns off and the ac light flashes, i smell the odd bit of burnt rubber smell. there are many threads on this but I cannot seem to sort out a troubleshooting way through it for an ac newb like I am.

Here is my condition:

- my compressor turns by hand when car is off. (the center thing rotates inside of the compressor pully). it has some resistance to it. i would not call it smooth, but would not call it grinding.

- ac squeals when turned on then shuts off and the light blinks
- had a puff of burnt rubber smell when it first happend, then went away for about 1500 miles.
- burnt rubber smell returned with a vengence last night to the point where i pulled over in the dark and inspected the engine bay for a possible fire. there was no smoke.
- due to the smell, i inspected all pully's and the belt and they appear fine. I did note that my belt was slightly glazed on the backside (the flatside). I do not know if it has ever been replaced.

- is it possible that the smell i noticed was the clutch?

Tacomas do rock. Mine is a 2006 with 158k miles on it and this is the first thing that has happened to it. I use it in the oilfield up in Alberta Canada and its never ever let me down.

Cheers, VikingTrad3r

 

It sounds like the clutch is free but the compressor is seized or ready to.

 

ac light flashing definitely indicates a slipping situation. you are probably going to find a seizing (seized) compressor. the source of the noise, and the burning smell is probably the belt slipping.

you by any chance add freon to the system did you? if its overcharged it can cause the belt to scream as well.

 

i did add some freon over a year ago just to top it up. was fine though. when it it went on me it was balls hot and had been running constant for 5 days out in the field on a job. the truck idles alot while im in the cab with the ac on.

- any ideas as to why would i be getting a smell if the ac is "off" and the clutch not engaged.

- thats why i went to check the belt.

- and if the belt is slipping, any ideas as to why is it the flat,backside, of the belt that is glazed?

 

i have to remember how that setup is. the backside glazing like that usually means the tensioner or idler is going bad but forgive me i have been working for amtrak for the last few years and havent touched any cars.