A/C Compressor making horrid noise.....

[94sleeperwoody]

Hello all,

Shortly after I bought my wagon, I tried the A/C on a hot day. I noticed a noise and a burning smell and quickly shut it off- but the terrible noise is still present. The car purred like a kitty kat before that and now it sounds like a total POS from the compressor noise.

It is a whiney tapping clicking sound and it is driving me nuts.

Do I have to replace the compressor, or does this sound like a fan clutch issue??

Thanks for any help on the matter!

Brian

 

[NAILHEAD_]

If you can afford it, take it to a GM dealer and have them look it over. And then at least you will know what's wrong with it (parts needed and hrs of shop time required). But from reading the symptoms. In my experience with my F150's A/C problems (currently just replaced the whole compressor as well) It sounds like the bearing has gone as well as the clutch.

I bought an AC Delco rebuild for the truck for only $75. GM's will probably be a little different in price but it gives you an idea of what to pay in the event you have to replace. I bought some time buy pulling the clutch off and disconnecting any power to the unit. But in the end I replaced the entire unit. All said and done was about $450 parts and labour.

 

[Thanatos]

Does the compressor still spin as though it's engaged? the sound would go away otherwise I'd think...with the motor off, check to see if the compressor clutch wobbles when you press it. and also try spinning it by hand.

Any smoke? Maybe the pump seized and the belt is rubbing on the clutch. Happened in my sisters' 95 Regal. lotsa smoke! 🙂 I swore that the motor had spun a bearing by the sound though.

All I've got for now,
Good luck

 

[WagonMaster_ZX]

Hello all,

Shortly after I bought my wagon, I tried the A/C on a hot day. I noticed a noise and a burning smell and quickly shit it off- but the terrible noise is still present. The car purred like a kitty kat before that and now it sounds like a total POS from the compressor noise.

It is a whiney tapping clicking sound and it is driving me nuts.

That sounds alot like my Mercury right now - does the A/C still work and get cold?

Guy that put freon in told me (showed me too) there was metal in the lines and that the little pistons were wearing down, he said I would need to eventually get a new compressor. Eventually hasnt arrived yet...

That was about 6 YEARS ago, its noisy but the dang thing STILL works and I might could have gone thru 2 cheaper compressors in the same time!!

Its a true story I swear!

 

[94sleeperwoody]

To answer your questions- No, the a/c does not work. It makes the noise without the ac even being on, and is worse when it is on (although since it happened I have not even dared to turn it on again). I haven't tried to turn it by hand, but I think I am going to go ahead and get spankin new compressor- mainly I wanted to see if the symptoms could possibly mean fan clutch, rather than doing a compressor. I am ordering one on thursday.

Thanks for the help, and by all means- if anyone has any other info please advise.

Thanks!!

 

[WagonMaster_ZX]

For that instance Ive been lucky - and still am!!
5 summers and still going.

 

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

The one on my Red Roadmaster is pretty loud. So I just put a louder Cold Air Intake on it... then put a super loud exhaust on. It's not a problem anymore if you can't hear it! 😀

The A/C hose on my car was cut by the control arm... so my A/C doesn't work on that car.

 

[94sleeperwoody]

Yeah, I'm getting my ultra flow ss mufflers next week so we will see! No, I am going to replace the a/c, I gotta have it working or the old lady will never want to go on vacation in it.

I am getting my mufflers though, I am just going to run dumps out of the muffler instead of tailpipes right now. I will post pics soon- I said I would forever ago, but I finally have a decent computer now so I will post some pics this weekend.