Hi
I have a 2004 156 2.0L JTS. A couple of days ago while driving through town I noticed a strong smell of burning plastic in the car. I pulled over to investigate and saw smoke coming from under the bonnet. On investigation the smoke was coming from the pulley of what I assume to be the air conditioning pump (in front of the engine, R/H side of the car). Before I start pulling pieces off the car to investigate, can anybody tell me what is the likely problem?
Thanks heaps
Richard
Assuming it is your air con compressor, and that the burning was the drive belt running on the siezed pulley, I would try and determine if it's the pump itself or the bearings in the pulley that have failed. If it works fine with the air con off but siezes up when you switch on the air con, then the pump itself is damaged. If it doesn't work either way then likely the pulley/clutch assembly has bitten the dust.
Either way, your local air con specialist should be able to sort it for you. Are there any air con places in New Plymouth?
Sounds like the bearings on the A/C compressor - I've had to replace the compressor on both my 156 V6's because the bearings had gone. Both had the same symptoms as yourself.
Second-hand compressors are about £30-£40, I paid a mobile A/C firm £110 to remove, refit and re-gas - just make sure you get the correct part no. for the compressor.
Its a 2004. I've had a bit of a net search and it looks like the pump is particular to Alfa, but common to almost all 4 cylinder 14*, 15* and 16* from 1999. Should be able to find one at a breaker.
I've just experienced the same thing and had 'the AA' inspect the car, turned the air con off, which has been a bit rubbish lately too, smoke stopped and they confirmed that the clutch bearings may be gone and a gas leak too.
This just happened to me this morning 2001 Selespeed smoking compressor big time, thanks for the heads up, gunna try make it home from work with the air con off... wish me luck.
Cheers
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