Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: 97 Taurus AC Compressor, ac condensor, 1997 ford taurus

Question
My 1997 Ford Taurus' drive belt broke yesterday. Right before it happened, the car was sort of surging at idle and then smoke started coming out of the hood. It looked like it was melted some and then broke where it wraps around the a/c pulley on th ac compressor (I'm guessing from friction on the ac pulley).  After the car cooled down I could barely turn the pulley by hand.  The day before this happened, white "smoke" (didn't have an odor) looking stuff was comming out of the vents when the AC was on while driving.  I didn't use the AC since then and the next day the belt came off.  I also found a rubber looking "plug" on the ground that was melted.  It looked like it came off the end of the ac pulley.  Recently the car was repaired by a body shop who replaced the AC condensor. What is causing this problem?  Is it the AC condensor? The AC compressor? The Clutch? Please help. Thank You.

Answer
If you have a new belt on the vehicle: Make sure that the A/C is OFF and start the car and the belt should not make any noise and the clutch on the front of the compressor should spin freely with the belt.

If you have NO belt on the vehicle reach down and try and turn the A/C pulley. If it turns easily by hand the compressor is seized.

If you have a new belt on the engine and you start the engine and then try and turn ON the A/C and the belt starts to make a noise the compressor is seized.