squeeling belt A/C clutch

[CorbetJackson50]

Ok my belt just all of a sudden started squeeling terribly all of the time accelerating idleing etc. but stops making the noise when i turn the ac on the only reason it stops making the noise with the air on is because the belt almost stops turning at all (really really slow) and i loose power steering and alternator light comes on etc. Just trying to confirm my diagnostic as the clutch will still spin freely with engine off i dont think it to be the compressor it self. any ideas and any one know how to replace the clutch in the compressor i here i need to rent some tools?

 

[CorbetJackson50]

the noise seems to be coming from the idler pulley but its so loud im not really sure.

 

[Glacier991]

I'm wondering if your compressor is seizing....not good. I mean when the AC clutch klicks in if it starts squealing it sounds like the compressor does not want to turn...is that a correct diagnosis ?

 

[JonPetrush]

My belt in my 96' started doing the terrible squeal, after doing the old imperical repair method, I first tried replacing the idler arm, The bearings on it were shot, but not the main problem. In the long run it turned out to be a bad water pump shaft bearing which was causing a slight deflection in thebelt, which in turn was causing it to rub the wrong way on another pully. However your problem really sounds like something it completely seized, or the belt is incredibly loose?. You say it squeels all the time, (assuming no AC on ) however when you turn the AC the belt quits moving. I would check that AC over.

Try taking your belt off, to test the idler arm, The water pump pulley, the power steering pump, and with the AC off ( which should be with the car off anyways the AC pulley. I have had a time where the pulley was in need of severe lubrication, but not much you can do for those bearings once they have said bye-bye.

Let me know how that goes, then we can determine further causes.


~jon

 

[CorbetJackson50]

well took the belt off and tried spining all of the pulley exept the one at the very bottom i believe the crankshaft every thing spun freely the only thing that had and resistance was the clutch part of the compressor the pulley part spun freely. on other thing that i notices was that ithe tensioner was not wanting to move in the counter clockwise manner to loosen the belt and seemed to be in an awkward position pointing further up than down seems like it used to be the other way around. the tensioner only wants to move clockwise (up) and springs back to slightly above horizontal. Thanks for any and all replys

 

[JonPetrush]

you should have some resistance on the AC compressor, as for the tensioner, if it is not under a good amount of tension to rebound back to the "HOME" position, I would look at that. Sometimes the spring inside wears out, or more likely, I had issues with the casing the spring was on warping, and causing wierd tensions. I will check on mine to see what the correct position should be.

~jon

And the crankshaft you will not be able to spin by hand unless you are he-man

 

[CorbetJackson50]

trhanks for the info i wnat to fix this as quick as i can because i can smell my belt slowly burning away. i think im gonna try to replace the tensioner when i get home from work.

 

[CorbetJackson50]

i beleive the tensioner fixed it allthough today when i went to work as well as lunch everything workes as it should the belt is much tighter with the new tensioner ill keep my my fingers crossed and i will be back on here if it starts back up again.

 

[Glacier991]

yay Jon ! Corbet please post updates as they always help....Jon I meant to tell you that you are a welcome addition to the board as knowledgeable and articulate!

 

[Longjohn119]

If you smelled your belt 'burning away' I'd change the belt too because it's probably glazed in several spots, if not all over .... As we say in the trade (HVAC) belts are cheap, downtime and emergency calls aren't ....