Burning rubber smell coming from vents

[zcreid]

Hey all! First post here and looking for some direction. I drive a 2004 Rubicon with 141k miles.

So a few days ago I was driving my jeep and about 7 minutes into my trip I noticed some type of burning rubber smell coming through my vents (i had my heat on) and then smoke started coming out of the hood. I pulled over as fast as I could and popped the hood. Smoke was coming from the serpentine belt but I wasn't sure which pulley. This is when it gets weird for me. I drive it back home and thankfully there was no more smoke or burning smell. Or so I thought. Whenever my ac is off, the jeep runs completely fine. However, as soon as I turn the ac/heat on, I begin to smell that burning rubber smell through the vents. When I was testing this to see where the smell was coming from it seemed to be still from the serpentine belt. So I'm thinking maybe the ac clutch is not engaging or something is causing tension and burning? Not to mention the rpms increase more than usual once the ac is turned on and the jeep rattles (feels like it is rattling from the engine and only happens when the ac is on). I'm at a loss. As a side note, the ac blows hot and cold just fine. The jeep only does this once the ac is turned on.

 

[Gollywomper]

Sound like something is wrong with the clutch or the AC compressor. Need to check to see if the clutch engages and the pulley spins.

 

[mrjp]

Sounds like A/C clutch or compressor froze up

 

[CharlesHS]

I wouldn't rule out the idler pulley or tensioner pulley bearings seizing up under load with the A/C compressor applying load to the serpentine belt. Time to start testing ALL the pulley bearings to see which one is seized up or seizes up under load.

 

[zcreid]

Sound like something is wrong with the clutch or the AC compressor. Need to check to see if the clutch engages and the pulley spins.

Thank you. After looking more into it, it appears the clutch isn't engaging. I turn the ac on and the clutch doesn't even move.

 

[zcreid]

I wouldn't rule out the idler pulley or tensioner pulley bearings seizing up under load with the A/C compressor applying load to the serpentine belt. Time to start testing ALL the pulley bearings to see which one is seized up or seizes up under load.

Thank you! I will start checking testing my pulley bearings.

 

[zcreid]

Sounds like A/C clutch or compressor froze up

Thank you. Is this something I should replace one by one? Or should I bite the bullet and buy both a new clutch and compressor?

 

[Gollywomper]

Try gently tapping it pushing on the clutch when it’s trying to pull in, carefully of course. There are shims on the clutch that can be removed to close the gap to help it pull in. This is a common adjustment for wear. Lots of info out there on how to do it. If that is the issue.