a/c noise

[v6camarorookie]

Hi,
I have a 98 V6 Camaro, the A/C works great, its cold and powerful
the problem is when turning the A/C on for a while and then turning it off
when I turn the A/C off I hear a metal grinding like sound!
I noticed that when I turn the A/C back on, the noise disappear!!
opened the hood, looked at the pullies, one of then stops turning when I turn the off the A/C and thats when it makes that noise..
I have no idea about car mechanics, but I think that pully is part of the A/C compressor or something!
should I try to change the belt and see what happens or is it the pully that is causing the problem?
help please, I dont want to go to michanic that charges $70 / hr and end up replacing parts that dont need to be replaced

[Rob Bell]

Re: a/c noise

It is the clutch for the AC compressor. The clutch is rubbing on the pully and causing the grinding noise. I would imagine that the clutch would have to be replaced. I don't know if it can be adjusted.

[v6camarorookie]

Re: a/c noise

do you know how much does it usually cost for the labor?

[vanbibber]

Re: a/c noise

call a shop.

[cam98aro]

Re: a/c noise

mine did the same thing, i just sprayed a whole bunch of wd-40 and white lithim around it and it has been silent ever since

[kristen]

Re: a/c noise

if you don't know ne thing what so ever i would say go to a shop unless you think you can do it.


if you clutch has gone on your compressor, then your going to want to fix that and probably get a new canister. once the clutch goes, it breaks up and can fill your system with crap. then you change the compressor, and the crap that is still in the system can mess up your new compressor

[Rob Bell]

Re: a/c noise

The clutch is on the outside of the compressor.

I would think that the clutch would be fairly easy to replace for a competent shop. They would probably need a puller to get the old one off and press fit the new one on. But this part I'm not sure about. That's something I would def take to a shop, and I do almost all of my own repairs. The PITA factor would not be worth it to me.

[GixxerSteph]

Re: a/c noise

mine did the same thing, i just sprayed a whole bunch of wd-40 and white lithim around it and it has been silent ever since

Same here. Dealer wanted over $500 to replace......lol.

[95 l-32]

Re: a/c noise

its the bearing assy inside the clutch unit and when it seizes it will pop the belt and your dead in water till you fix it , you can do it at home for around 50 bucks but you have to have the proper puller and installer , spraying lube on it is a temporary fix as eventually the bearings will grind themself to dust and the hub will fall off the shaft .its often easier to just get the wholesystem vaced out and replace the compressor as a unit then recharged

[Rob Bell]

Re: a/c noise

I can see doing a comressor swap in this case. Once the car gets to be about 10 years old, you are in danger of the compressor seals starting to leak anyway. Read the other posts on here about A/C problems. I'd just replace the compressor now and get it over with.

[v6camarorookie]

Re: a/c noise

mine did the same thing, i just sprayed a whole bunch of wd-40 and white lithim around it and it has been silent ever since

I already tried spraying wd-40, it gets quiet for a couple days and then the noise comes back again!!
thanks all for your replies, I will take the car to a michanic and see how much it const to replace the clutch, if I dont like the price, I will spray more wd-40
:naughty: