Rattling AC Compressor

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Ok, I just noticed this yesterday. When the AC is off the car is fine, but when I turn it on, the compressor is noisy. It rattles pretty bad. I checked all the bolts and they are tight, and the clutch doesn't seem loose. The AC works good, nice and cold. Any ideas?

[F1GT]

happened to my Beretta back in 97. Making a bunch of rattling noises and was hard to id where it came from. But, turning on the AC seem to have some sort of effect on the noise. One day, while going up the hill the condenser locked up and the drive belt kept going. I smell some burning and some some puffs of smoke under the hood. Popped the hood and see the smoke coming from the AC area, then "SNAP" the belt broke.

[Banks_2003]

same thing happened to me last week.... i turn the AC on and all i hear is rattling. so of course i thought it was the AC.... but when i popped the hood i found that a bolt had wiggled loose off of the alternator. so the little bit of tension the AC puts on the belts was just enough to make the alternator flap around. the bolt should be here today though so no more rattles [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Sheesh...I hope it's not the condenser. I can check the other drive belt components for loose bolts. If it's not that, I don't know what else it could be. Is there a way to tell if the compressor is failing?

[chas]

its probably the compressor clutch. the compressor has an electric clutch built in to the pulley so the compressor can be engaged and disengaged on the fly. you should be able to replace the compressor clutch seperately. dont know if you need a pulley puller or it just bolts on. check your service manual.

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by F1GT:
happened to my Beretta back in 97. Making a bunch of rattling noises and was hard to id where it came from. But, turning on the AC seem to have some sort of effect on the noise. One day, while going up the hill the condenser locked up and the drive belt kept going. I smell some burning and some some puffs of smoke under the hood. Popped the hood and see the smoke coming from the AC area, then "SNAP" the belt broke.

Same exact thing happened to my 91 Camaro. I was driving and I heard this loud "CLUNK" noise. I was like what the heck and kept driving but then I started smelling something burning. I was almost home so when I got there, I opened up the hood and the surp. belt was shredded and was smoking. I figured the pulley on the A/C Compressor had finally froze since it had been making a lot of noise ... but like a dumba%%, I tried to spin the pulley to make sure and burnt the hell out of my finger lol (sizzle sizzle)

You may want to get a new a/c clutch soon (which is prob what it is) so it doesn't freeze and end up leaving you stranded somewhere.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

I checked everything and it's not anything loose like the alternator or AC mounts. The tensioner seems fine too. The noise is hard to pinpoint, seems like it could be anywhere on the AC compressor side of the engine, but it ONLY happens when the AC is on. I think I may replace the clutch and see if it helps. Otherwise, I have no clue. Thanks for the info frome everyone...