Help diagnosing engine noise - problem solved?

[sherker55]

so that saga continues!

[CrackerTeg]

When you get the noise Jeff, is your A/C running? I've got an idea to rule it out. Pick up a shorter belt that doesn't incorporate the compressor (not sure if that can be done but its an old trick I've used) and see if the noise persists. It can be a quick thing once you find the appropriate sized belt and you could always return it and the store wouldn't be the wiser. For ideas on getting the right size, use an old rope or something like that and route it like the belt is supposed to be run but don't go around the compressor. Once you have that, take the rope to the auto parts store and they can measure it to give you the right sized belt.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

When you get the noise Jeff, is your A/C running?

I can just barely faintly hear it when the AC is off, but when the AC kicks in it gets a lot louder.

[CrackerTeg]

Sounds like it could be the compressor/ compressor clutch. You could try my short belt idea to confirm.

[timot_one]

I don't think the belt routing will allow a shorter belt to bypass the compressor.

[CrackerTeg]

That's why I said I'm not sure it would work. I haven't looked at the belt routing to confirm if it would or not.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Are there any other signs of the A/C compressor crapping out besides the noise? As far as I know, it blows pretty damn cold air.

[timot_one]

Well, even a fully functioning compressor makes noise.

[CrackerTeg]

Not really but from what's already been described and ruled out its very possible its your compressor clutch and not the compressor itself. Unfortunately, I don't think you can get the clutch on its own and you'd have to replace the compressor as a whole to fix it.

[striktlyaccord]

Jeff, I know the noise is hard to hear in your video, but from my experience, I can identify it because I was experiencing the same exact noise... almost like a screeching/sqealing noise.  You may want to look into the A/C compressor (as I've still been contemplating doing myself), and the simple way to test if that's the culprit is exactly what you've already noticed:  you can hear the noise at idle with the A/C off, but once you turn on the A/C or defrost feature and the compressor kicks on, the noise gets 3x worse.  However, make note of this as well:  When I tried to fix this issue, I thought it had to do more with the auto tensioner and belt because the compressor puts more stress on the belt when it's on, and if the belt isn't the right size, then wallah, the tensioner goes more haywire than normal with the A/C on versus off.  Also, when my mechanic was using a stethoscope to check the noise, he pinpointed it to the belt and tensioner.  Just a though for ya.  I knows it's a pain in the ass.

[timot_one]

Actually, you can buy the compressor clutch separately.  I know because I have one buried somewhere in my parts pile.

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Damn, that sounds expensive for just a noise, lol. I did notice that the compressor makes a clack when it kicks on, but I figured that's normal because I've heard a lot of other cars that make the same noise. It's just that constant ticking noise when the A/C is on is what bothers me. If my car isn't in any harm, I guess I can just live with it. The ticking noise has gotten a lot quieter though since I replaced my belt and tensioner. It also takes awhile of the car being warm for the noise to come back.

[k24low20z]

the easy way to fix it is to just take off the pulleys and see what happens..i can bet money it wont make that same sound anymore

[Jeff Likes Bagels]

Maybe so... but then all of this would have been for nothing. The pulleys give a nice gain too. If it comes down to that, I can live with the noises, lol.

I tried listening to it again when I got home, and noticed that I can't hear it when the A/C compressor is off, but when it kicks on, it comes out of nowhere. Is it hard to change the compressor clutch?

Dave, did you say you're still getting this same noise as well? I know you said that when you changed belts it mostly went away... Does your car sound anywhere like mine right now? Or is it all gone for you?

[timot_one]

It's kind of a PITA to do Jeff.