broken air conditioner cause engine to over heat???

[beerbaronkw]

my mother-in-law took her 1999 sunbird to a mechanic to get the air conditioner looked at (not working). the mechanic told her the compressor is dead and if she drives the car the engine will over heat (even with the air conditioner off).

if the mechanic full of it??? I don’t see how the compressor for the air conditioner could have anything to do with the cooling of the engine.

any input would be great,
Chris.

[Earthworm]

I guess all those cars that don't have air conditioning installed all overheat? :confused:

You are safe to drive it. When the A/C is on the radiator fan(s) will be spinning. If the engine overheats if you shut off the A/C then the cooling system is not doing its job (water pump, thermostat, head gasket, cracked head...)

[tkyoshi]

Yeah if the A/C is busted, it shouldn't cause any problems with the engine overheating or anything.

Now i've heard that if the compressor seizes in some cases it may cause a problem as the compressor might be driven by the same belt disrupting the whole system.

[Pete_Coach]

No connection between the engine cooling system and the A/C system. There may be a seperate radiator for the A/C sometimes. The only problem, as one poster already said is that if the compressoer is really at fault it can sieze up, the belt will rub and break and then you have no fan belt to turn the water pump, but before that happens you will smell burning rubber and the noise and smoke from under the hood will catch your attention.

[belgiangenius]

my mother-in-law took her 1999 sunbird to a mechanic to get the air conditioner looked at (not working). the mechanic told her the compressor is dead and if she drives the car the engine will over heat (even with the air conditioner off).

if the mechanic full of it??? I don’t see how the compressor for the air conditioner could have anything to do with the cooling of the engine.

any input would be great,
Chris.

Report the mechanic to the appropriate authorities. He's a fraud.