Chrysler Repair: 2004 Chrsler PT Cruiser, internal friction, vacuum leak

Question
The vehicle has 81000 miles & when I sit idol at a light when the air is on my car stalls.The other day actually I had my air on while I was driving & I heard a loud screech & the hood started to smoke no lights came on on my car & I turned off my air my car was fine after that somewhat. I need to know if it is the air conditoner sensor or maybe a belt or the vacuum leak theory. Please e-mail me what it might be.
Thank You

Answer
Hi Laura,
The smoke may well have been the ac compressor drive belt slipping on the compressor pulley. It may be that the compressor has seized up and is refusing to turn, which causes the belt slippage. My suggestion would be to check out that theory at an air conditioning repair shop. It might be that the belt is just not tight enough and is slipping for that reason, but the mention of the car stalling at idle tends to support the idea that the compressor is requiring too much energy to rotate,  which would be another sigh of a failing compressor. I doubt it is a sensor or a leak, but rather something mechanical with the compressor itself. The system does require some lubricating oil in the mix with the refrigerant and that may not have been present in sufficient quantity to prevent the internal friction of the compressor.
In any case, a competent and trustworth a-c mechanic will be able to diagnose the situation.
Roland