Can I take off my A/C Belt?
 

MY A/C compressor makes a high pitched whining noise. Would it damage anything if I just removed the belt since my compresser doesn't work anyway?

Why not replace the AC compressor? lol...

Mike

No, it will not hurt a thing. Coming back from a race in Las Vegas last year, my A/C belt tensioner seized up in the middle of nowhere. I didnt even bother to take the belt off. I just cut the belt and was back on my journey home. A week later, I replaced the bearing in the tensioner with a part from a local bearing shop for a mere $3. Add a new belt and I was quite happy. You might want to make sure that your noise is from the A/C compressor itself and not the tensioner. (just a thought)

Yea..... A $400 dollar part with another grand in parts and labor. I may live in Albuquerque but I can get by without it.

Is that belt wrapped around anything besides the compressor? Is that other pully just for tension?

I've been told that the compressor can seize up if you don't have a belt to it for extended periods of time. That being said, I went about 8 months without a belt on mine..

My compressor doesn't even work so I'm not worried about it seising up but would that damage anything else in the A/C system?