1998 Jeep Cherokee AC Compressor is broken - can it be ignored and serpentine belt changed to avoid compressor

I've owned the car for (2) years and I was told the AC didn't work. I never bothered to fix it. About a month ago, I noticed that the AC was kicking off and on occasionally all by itself without being turned on using the dashboard controls. It was working and blowing cold air. Before that, I had noticed that the AC compressor was kicking on and off every 5 seconds when the car was in low revs. This weekend after a 3 hour highway trip, the car was making a loud gurgling and rattling noise. I was pretty sure it was the AC. On the way back yesterday, I smelt burning rubber and I'm pretty sure it was the belt.



I think the AC compressor is about seize. I don't care about the AC so what are my options?



Is it possible to buy the belt which came with the non-AC Cherokees of the same year. Does anyone have a belt routing diagram for this?



If I disconnect the control wires on the compressor, is it likely to still seize or will it run freely. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
1998 Jeep Cherokee AC Compressor is broken - can it be ignored and serpentine belt changed to avoid compressor
Although you dont care about the AC. It is needed to maintain that one main belt. If you take the AC compressor out. The main belt will be too loose. They sell aftermarket pulleys that keep the belt intact. I believe JCwhitney.com sells that. It may not be listed in their catalog. So you will have to give them a call. If not then I guess you have no other choice but to change the AC compressor.
1998 Jeep Cherokee AC Compressor is broken - can it be ignored and serpentine belt changed to avoid compressor
if the pulley turns easily and is not locked up,just unplug the power from the compressor and go on
when the a/c compressor is not energized, either by the a/c control, OR the defroster, yes the defroster activates the a/c compressor also.

the a/c clutch is disengaged, and SHOULD spin free like a pully Since the compressor was running, every 5 seconds going on and off, you're low on freon, thus oil as well. you probably helped the clutch seize onto the pully by keeping it running.

What you can do is goto a local auto parts store, request to see a Dorman automotive catalog, inside there's a replacement pully assembly that goes where the a/c compressor currently is. this way you eliminate the compressor, and the pully takes the space of the missing part.

you can TRY to find a shorter belt, you'll have to measure with string, and it WILL take several tries, and there's no promise you'll find the correct belt either.
There is a wire near the belt on the compressor, disconnect this wire and the compressor will not engauge and the belt will spin freely the compressor will only act as a pulley at this point.



Yes you can buy the non AC belt and bypass the compressor you can get the diagram in the user manual, factory service manual, Chilton or Haynes manual or at Autozone.com