So my '99 Cherokee 4.0 AC clutch locked up and snapped the belt, luckily in the driveway.

I just placed order for the AC bypass pulley and new belt to get it back to drivable condition. I *will* replace the compressor (and whatever else needed) to get AC working this spring, but in the meantime what should I do about the AC lines? I'd assume plug them in some manner but never found a thread talking about this, mostly just guys pulling the AC system out completely.

 

I bought an '00 with a seized AC Compressor cheap. Bought the bypass pulley to get by until I could fix it properly. I just took a plastic ziploc baggie, put that metal piece where the hoses were inside and duct taped it. Wasn't pretty but did the job. Did not even need to secure it. Just let it hang in there. It was fine.

 

Thought I'd add this here in case someone down the road finds it useful>>
Maybe just for 87-90 Renix, not sure there.
AC Bypass/Idler pully. (unconfermed) > Get an AC bracket from a 92, go to NAPA to pick up a Dorman AC bypass pulley for a 92 and newer. NAPA # p/n 660-1819. The belt size remains the same. You need to use the pulley spacer that comes with in the hardware bag, it moves the pulley out about an 1/8" so that it lines up perfectly with the rest of the stock pulleys.

 

Thanks man. Parts came yesterday, gonna put them on today and I'll use that same method.

 

When doing something like this which leaves the AC system exposed to atmosphere, if down the road you put the AC back into service you'll want to flush the old oil out of the system and replace with fresh stuff. Also replace the drier.

The oil used in R134a systems absorbs atmospheric moisture very readily and this moisture is not released when you pull vacuum. Likewise the drier will be ruined by prolonged contact with atmosphere. (Really should not be exposed for more than a few minutes.) Once disconnected, even if you seal up the ends of the hoses there is still air and moisture in the system.

R134a and moisture form acids which will eat small holes in metal components such as the evaporator and condensor. So even if everything seems OK without taking these steps you would likely have trouble later.

 

The effort to remove and "clean" parts points to just swapping them to new parts at one time.

Dump out the new compressor to measure the oil volume. My new compressor had almost enough oil for the entire system. The FSM says to put specific oil amounts into each component.

 

Well that sucks. Thanks for the info though! Guess I'll be replacing more than just compressor this spring. I'll bookmark this thread and refer to it when the time comes.

 

yrs ago a friend had his ac go dead, compressor. he took it off, to junkyard and got a matching unit. installed it and charged the system.
it was still working yrs later when he sold the car, what can i say?