Definitely not the alternator...kinda wishing it had been as that would have been simpler than getting into compressor replacement.
Just had a "experienced, mature mobile mechanic" who claimed to know what he was doing spend 2 hours ****ing around doing not much of anything. (Had never touched an HHR before--ignored me when I told him the battery wasn't under the hood, ignored me when I told him where the screws and clips were to pull the fender well liner etc...ugh)
Anyway, he did manage to determine that the issue is probably either the compressor locking up or the clutch locking up. Have someone else who does specialize in AC and is familiar with GMC vehicles coming in the morning. Any info y'all can give me about the potential issues and most cost effective solutions would be great....
Barely working for the last year and definitely don't have a spare grand or 2 for car repairs!

 

Picking up a new compressor/clutch this afternoon...have a mobile AC service coming in the morning to do the work.
My question for the forum, do I NEED to replace absolutely every other part in the AC system like they are trying to insist I do or given that the frozen clutch is an obvious issue, am I good with just clutch and compressor replacement? $ are, unfortunately, a huge factor for me right now.....$1000+ vs half that is a big deal.

 

If it is the clutch only; it probably is not absolutely necessary, but there may be no warranty. IF he will do a half job.

Replacing everything is the right way to do it, especially if there is a chance that foreign objects may be inside from the compressor decomposing.