I just replaced the serpentine belt (had a Goodyear gatorback and replaced it with a Gates belt) and I'm still getting a squeal/squeaking sounds sometimes when the A/C compressor is engaged. It's not the blower motor as I can (when it's actually doing it) make the noise start and stop by hitting the button to turn on the compressor. I drove to town and back the other day without it making a peep (about 45 miles), but my wife said it did it to her several times yesterday when she was driving to town when she tried to turn the A/C on. As such, she'd just turn it off and try again later.
FWIW, it's a 2004 that has right at 84K miles on it, and it has not had any of the idler pulleys or tensioner replaced. The tensioner seemed to be ok when I changed the belt out last week as I had to get a pretty decent lever arm in place to take the tension off of the belt. The top small idler pulley I could very slightly move back and forth if I grabbed the top and bottom of the pulley and "rocked it" back and forth, but it spun easily and would go for a while once it was spinning... I can't remember if I checked the others, but that one I know I checked.
Could this be a clutch or bearing issue on the compressor? If so, how would I diagnose which it is? I *really* hope the compressor itself isn't going bad. The A/C does work (although it takes a LONG time to cool down that big of a van with just a front A/C unit).
Any suggestions?
I plan to remove the belt this weekend and see if I can detect any wobble/dragging/noise in the compressor pulley, but is there anything else I should look at?
Thanks for the help.
FWIW, it's a 2004 that has right at 84K miles on it, and it has not had any of the idler pulleys or tensioner replaced. The tensioner seemed to be ok when I changed the belt out last week as I had to get a pretty decent lever arm in place to take the tension off of the belt. The top small idler pulley I could very slightly move back and forth if I grabbed the top and bottom of the pulley and "rocked it" back and forth, but it spun easily and would go for a while once it was spinning... I can't remember if I checked the others, but that one I know I checked.
Could this be a clutch or bearing issue on the compressor? If so, how would I diagnose which it is? I *really* hope the compressor itself isn't going bad. The A/C does work (although it takes a LONG time to cool down that big of a van with just a front A/C unit).
Any suggestions?
I plan to remove the belt this weekend and see if I can detect any wobble/dragging/noise in the compressor pulley, but is there anything else I should look at?
Thanks for the help.