A.c. pump is froze up, now car won’t start

My car is not starting and I'm wondering if it is due to my serpentine belt being frozen, or if it is my starter.

My car has 98000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
A seized a/c compressor can certainly make the engine difficult to start, if not start at all. To describe it in simple terms, the a/c compressor is similar to a mini engine. It can have chambers similar to engine cylinders and uses compression similar to the engine cylinders to compress the refrigerant. A seized or damaged compressor can make it similar to trying to start your engine AND a seized engine combined. The a/c compressor clutch can also be a cause. The clutch allows the a/c compressor pulley to spin freely when the a/c is not in use. If the clutch itself is seized and not allowing the compressor to spin freely, or the compressor cycling switch has constant power and not disconnecting the compressor from the clutch, this can mimic a seized compressor. Try disconnecting the electrical connector at the a/c compressor then trying to start the vehicle. If it starts, then the compressor clutch and/or electrical circuit is the most likely cause. If this doesn’t help, have a certified technician look into why the engine will not start to find the exact cause.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

A seized a/c compressor can certainly make the engine difficult to start, if not start at all. To describe it in simple terms, the a/c compressor is similar to a mini engine.
If your compressor seizes or gets locked up, it can sometimes be mechanically freed to get your unit cooling again right away. Soon the compressor may fail again or sometimes it will chug along for a good while which buys you a little time to stop sweating and make a plan to replace it.
An air conditioner compressor that has locked can keep the engine from cranking (turning over) so therefore the engine can`t start ..
Some of the causes for car air conditioning compressor locking up include incorrect or low quality refrigerant being used, low coolant levels, and improper lubrication. You need to get your car checked out before any issue worsens.
A seized AC compressor can stall your engine when you turn on the air or defroster because it sends a signal to engage the clutch on the compressor, which causes more resistance than normal.
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR BYPASS PULLEYS. If the AC compressor on your classic car has stopped working and you would rather not replace it, installing an AC compressor bypass pulley is a viable option for safely and efficiently removing your factory AC compressor.
Signs Of a Frozen Air Conditioning System

The most obvious sign is a lack of air coming out of your vents and the temperature in your home rises. The ice in the coil has restricted the airflow causing the supply air to basically trickle out of the vents.

A fault in the IAC such as build up, can cause poor idling or stalling of the engine. If not working properly, the engine may not cope with the loads produced by various systems in the car. More specifically, it may be too low to run the A/C and hence it stalls when turned on.
A bad compressor could affect the engine in your car. If your compressor`s pulley bearing goes bad, your engine can stall due to the stuck compressor or the serpentine belt may break affecting all the accessories moved by the serpentine belt.
When they break or slacken because of a faulty A/C compressor, your engine will work overtime in an attempt to power them. This can cause your engine to wear out more quickly. The longer you drive with a broken A/C compressor, the more damage you can do to your car`s engine and your entire air conditioning unit.
A fault in the IAC such as build up, can cause poor idling or stalling of the engine. If not working properly, the engine may not cope with the loads produced by various systems in the car. More specifically, it may be too low to run the A/C and hence it stalls when turned on.
A fault in the IAC such as build up, can cause poor idling or stalling of the engine. If not working properly, the engine may not cope with the loads produced by various systems in the car. More specifically, it may be too low to run the A/C and hence it stalls when turned on.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My car stutter starts, but only after driving it for a few minutes.
ANSWER : Hey there. This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire, or stall. If you would like to have an expert pinpoint the issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard start problem and confirm which repairs are needed.

My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.

Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.

My car stutters after driving it for a few minutes – 2002 Toyota
ANSWER : This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire or stall. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your fuel pressure.

Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.

At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.

New battery & fuel pump. Hours later car starts and shuts down 3X in a row. Finally it starts, 48 hours later, won’t start at all
ANSWER : Checking all the fuses was a good move. I would also want to put a scan tool on it and check for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) as well as seeing the data that the computer is seeing.

A fuel pressure test would be a good idea to verify correct pressure and so that you’d be able to eliminate that possibility. It should be 58psi on your Magnum.

I also recommend getting your battery tested (I know, it’s new, have it tested anyway) and be sure it’s charged to at least 75%. And yes, loose battery cable connections can result in electrical problems.

If you need some assistance with this, consider enlisting a certified mechanic who can perform the checks I’ve mentioned and diagnose your starting issue firsthand. The mechanic can then perform the necessary repairs once the problem has been isolated. Good luck.

Car will crank but no start… Fuel pump not coming on. New pump, relay, etc. Will start when hot wire runs from pump wires to bat
ANSWER : There are a couple of approaches to take here – either start from the battery and work "towards" the fuel pump, fuse box, ignition switch, fuel pump relay, and wiring connections in between. Or, as you have done, start at the pump with 12v, and move backwards towards the battery. This will require a GM service manual, or wiring diagram at least, with connection locations as well.

I would recommend having a certified technician from YourMechanic diagnose this starting issue, get an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs. YourMechanic.com can dispatch a mobile, professional mechanic to your location for this repair.