Noise from pully, ac unit, or tensioner?
#1
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Noise from pully, ac unit, or tensioner?
When the car is running there is a nasty noise coming from under the hood. When I flip on the ac, the noise almost disappears. Then when I turn off the ac, the noise is back 100%.
I'm not that experienced with the ac stuff, but I did look down there and seen a smaller belt attached to the main pulley, then two smaller pulleys which I assume are some tensioners, and then the ac pulley.
Could the belt be worn?
Could something be wrong with the tensioners?
Or is the ac clutch bearings shot and it is just sloppy?
Hopefully this is a minor prob. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
I'm not that experienced with the ac stuff, but I did look down there and seen a smaller belt attached to the main pulley, then two smaller pulleys which I assume are some tensioners, and then the ac pulley.
Could the belt be worn?
Could something be wrong with the tensioners?
Or is the ac clutch bearings shot and it is just sloppy?
Hopefully this is a minor prob. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
#3
TECH Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the smaller belt, remove that one then? Will this harm anything removing the belt and then starting the car? What about removing the belt and if someone turns on the ac? I just don't want to F anything up. I'm already on a tight budget.
#5
11 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Winchester, VA
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You won't hurt anything by not running the belt. The compressor just won't work if you try to turn it on. I don't know about leaving it on for a extended period of time but an accidental flip of the switch isn't going to hurt anything.
Trending Topics
#11
From your description looks to me like is the idler pulley/belt.
If you turn the A/C ON and the noise comes, then it would be the AC tensioners.
not sure if you got it fix but, just wanted to help either way.
If you turn the A/C ON and the noise comes, then it would be the AC tensioners.
not sure if you got it fix but, just wanted to help either way.
#14
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pocatello Idaho
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok sounds to me like you are having the same problem I had a while back. If you haven't removed the belt yet run the ac for a min. Then when you turn it off and the noise appears spray some (moly o-ring chain lube is what I used) right on the ac pully that is what I did. Don't soak it or get the belt just the front part of the ac. If the sound goes away it is the clutch system on the front of the ac pump. Is there a lot of rust bulit up on it? Searched for weeks trying to figure the damn thing out. That was it. It almost sounds like a glass plate spinning on concrete? That the sound you are hearing?
#15
On mine the noise is all the time, regardless if the AC is on or off , but it does seem to be coming from the lower AC belt area, I'll give the moly o-ring chain lube a try. At the same time I noticed the noise the car threw a knock sensor code also.
#18
sjsingle did it end up being idler or tensioner? I replaced my main tensioner because it was shot anyways (would throw belts if i got on the gas and let off abruptly) but obvoiusly still have the noise. Ive regreased the bearing before as well so i was just going to buy a new AC tensioner next. engines got 98k anyways so figured its time
#19
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
i did not replace either tensioner...........just replaced ALL the pulleys.......so happy with no sqeak now......i did a tear down on the pulley by the alt.......it had NO grease in the bearings........the dayco replacements for the a/c pulleys are both metal compared to plastic for stock......i think that helps with noise