so is this an important part of the A/C compresser?

[RIPN RAY]

so my a/c has never worked, i always thought it was this thing hanging from the compressor. it isn't a metal wire, it's rubber with string inside almost like a belt. so what do you think? is it an important part for the compressor? should i get a new one?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

pull the string off.

It looks like a piece of a failed belt that got stuck the clutch.

[joshua43214]

It could be part of an old belt the self destructed, or part of the wraping that goes arround the clutch electromagnet. can't really tell from the pic. If its the magnet, you can get a new clutch assembly, but if it has been empty for a long time, its possible the compressor will be bad anyway.

Try hot wiring the compressor to see if the clutch will engage, then proceed from there with diagnosing the AC. I would assume it has no freon in it if it sat for a long time.