A/C Noise
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
A/C Noise
Whenever I turn my A/C on I hear a noise that sounds a lot like a water pump does when it starts going out. Is this normal for a 1980 model A/C? I seem to remember when I bought the car the previous owner mentioned something about he had replaced the compressor. I usually don't drive it when its 90+ degrees outside but when I do its nice to have some air conditioning. Any ideas on this?????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Sounds like the belt is slipping (wishfull thinking) or the compressor clutch is dieing. fire it up and look at the AC clutch on the compressor (thats the part the belt runs) when the compressor kicks on you should see the front of the clutch turn and no noise. Check the belt tension before you start it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
i took a four hour cruise today in 103 temp with the tops off.. i got a bit of a tan and probably lost 5 pounds sweatin....
<---- lookin for seat cleaner and a shower now..
<---- lookin for seat cleaner and a shower now..
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 13,138
Likes: 0
From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by rrhodes4
Whenever I turn my A/C on I hear a noise that sounds a lot like a water pump does when it starts going out. Is this normal for a 1980 model A/C? I seem to remember when I bought the car the previous owner mentioned something about he had replaced the compressor. I usually don't drive it when its 90+ degrees outside but when I do its nice to have some air conditioning. Any ideas on this?????
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Originally Posted by rrhodes4
... I seem to remember when I bought the car the previous owner mentioned something about he had replaced the compressor. ... Any ideas on this?????
When the R4 went out on mine, I got a new one from the Chevy dealer.
Currently custom ND compressor setup.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by Ganey
It came w/ a R4 compressor. A rebuilt R4 may make noise. Make sure the brackets & belts are tight.
When the R4 went out on mine, I got a new one from the Chevy dealer.
Currently custom ND compressor setup.
When the R4 went out on mine, I got a new one from the Chevy dealer.
Currently custom ND compressor setup.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Apparently its fixed
I got to take a good look at it today. Although the belt felt tight enough, I noticed that when the clutch kicked on there was a lot of play on the lower end of the belt. I tightened it up to take out the excess play and the noise quite. I guess today was my lucky day. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
mine was making noise last week, turned out to be the bracket that the heater hose goes thru under the compressor, the a/c clutch was rubbing on the bracket, the bracket was only mounted w / one bolt,so i reinstalled it using both bolts