ew (or anyone else) - I am starting to get confused in this thread.
1) if the compressor were to seize inside, I think the pulley would just spin on the open (un-engaged) clutch, or ? That's what it does on my car when the refrigerant pressure is too low, and the under pressure switch disables it, or when I pull the AC clutch relay.
Tibia, please respond on this ...
2) if the pulley bearing seized, any A/C shop could fix it cheap. The saving is not so much in the cost of the compressor, b/c a remaned compressor is about the same price as a new pulley and clutch, but in the labor to get it out, evacuate and refill the system, new drier and labor etc... It only takes minutes to pop the clutch pulley off, if you have the tools, I have seen it done, Takes more time to get the wheel and the pulley cover plate out of the way!
A shop may charge one hour labor for this( a very profitable task, this); plus $150-200 for the expensive part. They must then take the customer aside and very carefully explain the "Facts of AC life" .
I had no idea this job was so easy..Very little AC back in the 60s,70s for Saab.. and my AC just keeps on tickin'..:cheesy: But it may have been serviced 5 years ago..
3) why not just get the belt for the car w/o the A/C, both belts are listed w. Saab p/n's?
(from EPC)
you can look up the p/n's on genuinesaab.com, and the "non-USA belt" is used on modified cars in the US, where people remove the A/C to make room for other things.
Either some repair shop is trying to hose this guy big-time, or I am missing the point...