One of the pulleys that pulls my alternator belt is scrubbing up against something. Is this a timing issue as well. Its not the pulley that the timing pointer is on. Its actually one next to it. Its making a horendous burning smell and sound. Anybody had this problem before? How much to fix?

 

This isn't a timing issue. That doesn't screw up the timing belt or the cam timing.

What's it rubbing on? We can't see it from here. If its something that shouldn't be there, you've got to fix it or bend it out of the way.

OTOH, if your engine mounts are bad, then your engine isn't quite in the right place. If that's it, you have to fix the mounts to position your engine correctly. Otherwise you'll have other troubles (like driveshafts).

Could be several hundred $ to have a shop replace a couple engine mounts. Or it could take you 5 minutes to bend something out of the way.

 

Ok, I took it to the shop today and they said its the ac compressor rubbing up against something. I can look down and see a pulley that appears to be rubbing up against something down there. I have a 5th gen 94 LX. Do all of the 5th gen 4 cylinder compressors fit. I dont see myself paying $500 for a new one so Im thinking about buying one off of Ebay for like $25. Id rather buy 19 broken ones and get one that works than get one for $500. I need help picking out one. My mechanic said something about 1 with a clutch on it. Do I need one with a clutch or can i get one without a clutch. Somebody please help!!

 

the clutch is the part on the front that engages when it's on....if you're gonna do it that way, then get one with a clutch.....is the a/c compressor the problem or is something it's attached to the problem...bent bracket, or like the guy said, something bent INTO the compressor.....and if all they told you was that "something was rubbing", well, you already knew that...find another shop and tell them to see if they can tell exactly WHY it's rubbing...unless the compressor is locked up, then i dont see how it would be the problem...and they do lock up when the go bad, but make sure.....you'll have to recharge your a/c system, etc....pain in the ass

 

They told me that i need a new compressor.. I guess my next question is do I have to have one with a clutch for my AC to work? It appears to me that the pulley is crooked and rubbing up against something next to it.

 

the best way to see for sure, call the parts house and see if they sell it, for your car specifically, with a clutch and without one....most places do...i assume you'd have to have it.....but if you're gonna get one from a car that is a little different, u might have to swap out clutches or pulleys or something to get it to work......cross reference part numbers from new parts and see what the difference might be.....this **** could get aggravating...

 

Really - your next step is to look & see WHAT IS IT that's rubbing. Why do you need a new compressor if the real problem is something rubbing? Find what it is & then you can probably bend it out of the way.

First, look at the pulleys really carefully. The compressor pulley should line up perfectly straight with the crankshaft pulley. (Actually all the pulleys need to be straight.) If the compressor brackets are bent, then thats what you need. I don't know what it looks like on a '94, maybe the mounting is part of the compressor housing??

If the compressor is straight, & something else is bent so it rubs, then bend it back out of the way where it belongs.


Final thought - maybe the rubbing is actually inside the compressor or its clutch. Then maybe the shop is right...

edit... Doh
I just realized you said your pulley is crooked. I guess it depends just what's bent, and what parts you can actually buy without getting the whole compressor.

 

Ok, I took a thorough look at it during the day with the engine running and it doesnt look like its rubbing. Its actually just making an ungodly noise. It sounds like my engine is about to fall out at anytime.

 

So maybe whatever's bent & rubbing is within the compressor clutch assembly? Then maybe they were right & you need a new compressor. I don't know if you can just replace the clutch.

When you first posted, it sounded to me like there was something else just rubbing against the belt.

 

Yesterday it seized and my belt disentegrated. I made it to the junkyard and got another ac compressor before my battery died. I refuse to pay $500 for a new one. Guess I will get it put in tommorrow.