Replacing AC Clutch without loosing refrigerant

ibyte

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
TDI
2000 jetta tdi gls sedan 5spd
On a 2000 jetta tdi manual trans. Is it possible to replace the ac clutch without opening the the refrigerant lines?
Is it as easy as loosening the belt.
Using a clutch/pulley puller and replacing i t with a new one?
Do i need to lockdown the compressor from turning? how?
Thanks for any response.
Also where can i source just the AC clutch/pulley/magnet ?
 

redbaron58p

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Location
Seattle (GranolaVille)
TDI
2001 Jetta GLS
I haven't done it on the jetta yet, but on my Saab it was as easy as putting the car up on jackstands, dropping the compressor down (there is enough hose to allow some working room) and remove the clutch/pulley. The clutch is typically a plate on the very outside of the pulley and may not even require removing the compressor from its mount. It should be very easy to do since its right on the bottom of the car.
Question is, can you get a clutch plate seperately? It may be wise to do the bearing at the same time if you're going to all this trouble. They tend to go bad about the same time and will leave you stranded if it really goes bad.
 

PDJetta

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Location
Northern Virginia
TDI
'04 Jetta GLS TDI Pumpe Duce Platinum Grey w/ Leather
No experience personally, but I have read here that for some odd reason a new compressor (with clutch) costs about what a replacement clutch does.

--Nate
 

redbaron58p

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Location
Seattle (GranolaVille)
TDI
2001 Jetta GLS
I looked around and can't see just the clutch for sale anywhere. This is typical though. Most manufacturers don't sell the individual parts, though you could probably find them directly as I did in the case of my saab's compressor bearing which had failed. Naturally, the shops all wanted me to buy a $500 compressor to fix what turned out to be $40 bucks in parts. I was able to find the bearing and clutch from a place called Polar Bear AC supply. Look them up on the web. They sell many of the individual mechanical parts for these compressors, but you will need to know the model of compressor. They don't have a way to cross reference to the type of car usually.

For me, it was worth the effort to save hundreds at the shop.
 

gforce1108

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Location
Newburgh, NY
TDI
04 Jetta GLS BEW, 14 Audi A7 V6 TDI, 13 Porsche Cayenne V6 TDI
To answer the original question - you do not loose any refrigerant. Remove the belt then remove the center nut. To do this you'll need to hold the end plate still. I was able to grab one of the nubs with pliers (Beetle was a little tight). Once that plate comes off there is a circlip holding the pulley on. Behind that is a circlip holding the coil in place. The owner of the car I was working on bought a whole used compressor just for the clutch and it was relatively cheap.
 

spleecho

I don't kill trees Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Jul 13, 2006
Location
Las Vegas, NV
TDI
1999.5 Golf TDI
I've done it, yes it's possible, wear double rubber gloves your knuckles will love you for it and don't don't leave the compressor hanging by the hoses
 

Gearhead51

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Location
Suwanee (Atlanta), GA
TDI
2000 Jetta
I did mine on stands from underneath. It's not a bad job at all. I decided to replace the bearings, plate, and clutch magnet all together rather than get a "built in who knows where" aftermarket compressor.
 

gquenstedt

Veteran Member
Joined
May 26, 2006
Location
San Antonio, TX
TDI
'06, '03 x 2, '00
I got the clutch replaced and it worked perfect for several weeks. Now today, it doesn't cool anymore. If you turn the A/C off, it makes a terrible noise.

I got under it and checked it, and the front plate free spins... and the nut and shaft don't spin with the plate. I put a socket on the nut to try to take it off, and I could spin the nut which was turning the compressor shaft. I could turn it with the socket with just using my fingers.

Any ideas? new compressor? new front plate?

Thanks
-Grant
 
Top