A/C AC Clutch fell apart, landed in fan housing

Dodge wants me to cover $380 plus a $49 "diagnostic fee"

The fee is the best part considering where the clutch was when I took it in.

Napa has compressors for $350.

Anyone know the hours of labor required for install?

settled with me paying just the cost of the compressor $228.

Just had this happen to me.
Looks like the bolt that holds the clutch just broke?????
Trying to find info now.

Ya, Dodge knows about this issue. Their cost is what I paid for the part. It wasn't easy to get them to replace, but the dealer sees this often.

No updated part, just the same garbage that they installed from the factory. If your radiator was not destroyed you should consider yourself lucky. The entire compressor will have to be replaced according to dealer and NAPA.

However, someone on this board was able to replace just the clutch I think.

Interesting.
I called my dealer and they didn't offer up any info on a problem.
I don't think I have any damage to anything else. I just heard a little ticking and when I investigated, found the loose clutch hub sitting against the plastic fan shroud causing the ticking.
It looks like the head of a bolt just broke off. I'm hoping that's all it is and I can just remove the broken bolt stud and replace. I haven't had a chance to investigate further yet. Hoping it wasn't a nutted stud as that will probably require compressor replacement.
Kind of weird to just up and bust.
Thanks for your info.

I had the small bolt holding the clutch break in the shaft over a year ago. One day the A/C wouldn't work, it was working the previous day. Then I remembered I heard a loud ping the night before, the clutch hitting the pavement. Luckily no damage to anything else. The bolt was broken 1/16" in the shaft. It was right around 36k miles and the dealer warrantied the work for a new compressor.

Kev.

Exactly the same scenario, ridiculous.

I don't expect my replacement to last anymore than 30k miles.

Finally had time to crawl under and see what I could do. The bolt is sticking out of the shaft about 1/2 " and I got on it with a small pair of vice grips. Thought I was making progress until I realized the shaft was turning. I tried and tried to wedge things in there to hold the shaft and remove the bolt but no success. My guess is they loctited it in there. Hate to spend $400 on a damn bolt! (Obviously a mfg flaw!)

Dodge's cost on the compressor is $228. I was able to only pay that and they installed gratis at the dealer after a lot of "negotiation" and some bbq.

Goodluck. I think they might have to release a TSB but probably not a recall since they got it 'perfectly' designed in that it seems to fail within 5,000 miles of being out of coverage.

I've been pricing it out - best so far remanufactured installed: $600 !!!

A ******* $600 bolt!!! Bull

Napa told me $350 on a complete compressor and clutch all one unit.

A few hours of labor and you'd be around 500 or 600 no doubt.

Yeah, the problem is it takes specialized equipment to evacuate and properly re-fill the the refrigerant. I guess I could just bleed it off and do the mechanical work myself and then go to an a/c place to vacuum and re-fill.

trophytime said:

Yeah, the problem is it takes specialized equipment to evacuate and properly re-fill the the refrigerant. I guess I could just bleed it off and do the mechanical work myself and then go to an a/c place to vacuum and re-fill.

Click to expand...

You can make a vacuum pump using an old AC pump. You can use just about any piston type of AC pump to make your tool. Mount it on a board and power it with a belt to an electric motor. Hook up your gauges and lines on the suction side and connect it to your system. If you think about it you can fab up lots of little extras to make the tool work better. I built my own setup for around 25 bucks. You might be able to find all of the parts at a auto/truck wrecker.

Dang, I thought someone stole the clutch off my truck while in Houston Tx. Lots of people had there wheels stolen and vehicles stolen, so I assumed. 46,000 miles, and I do remember hearing a pinging noise. Guess it was MFG defect. Anyone had anyluck getting Dodge to warranty the compressor and labor? I was quoted $1178 to replace, evacuate, and recharge the system.

Do these use the same AC units as the 4th gen Rams?

@2012 RAM 3500

Is that sarcasm I smell?

lol

I still want to know...

See this thread for more info:

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/6-7l-non-powertrain/372159-ac-clutch-fell-off-anybody-else.html

So, is there a writeup or something to describe how to replace the bolt BEFORE it breaks, so that this won't have to happen to me?

^^^^Also, I still haven't heard an answer to my stupid question above.^^^^

:confused013:

Oh, and is this the clutch needed?

Amazon.com: Mopar 55056990AC Cooling Fan Clutch: Automotive