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Engine stalls when heat is turned one in Chevy Malibu

Tiny
KPARTYKA
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 120,000 MILES
Car seems to be running fine, but when I turn the heat on it stalls. There metal shavings by the air conditioner compressor clutch.
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 1:12 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Check that the compressor is not seized, drop the belt off and see if it will turn.
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Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 1:16 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Mhpautos means, will the inner part of the compressor turn?

The pulley may free-wheel just fine, until the A/C or heat is turned on. Then the clutch locks the pulley to the compressor!

If the compressor is locked up, the pulley cannot spin freely, and the inner part sorta grinds on the pulley.

The reason "heat" makes it engage is because the "defrost mode" uses the A/C evaporator to remove moisture, before the air is blown on your windshield

If you disconnect the wire to the compressor, it should not come on. You may be able to get by a while, and still have heat, until you can get it fixed. Only if the pulley will spin free.

The Medic
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Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 5:11 AM

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