AC issue?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
AC issue?
OK, Last fall I installed a new AC system.
click here
It worked very good at the time.
Now for the issue, since I pulled the car out of storage this week the AC sort of locks up when I first turn it on. The belt starts to squeal. If I turn the ac off and drive a couple miles the problem goes away. It does this every time I let the car sit for a while and start it back up again. Until I get this figured out I am not going to use the ac. I would like to take it to the ac shop but before I do I would like some idea of why this may be.
Thanks
click here
It worked very good at the time.
Now for the issue, since I pulled the car out of storage this week the AC sort of locks up when I first turn it on. The belt starts to squeal. If I turn the ac off and drive a couple miles the problem goes away. It does this every time I let the car sit for a while and start it back up again. Until I get this figured out I am not going to use the ac. I would like to take it to the ac shop but before I do I would like some idea of why this may be.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I'm not sure what you mean that the a/c sort of locks up. It sounds like the belt could be loose. Check the compressor belt for proper tension and condition for starters.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
Belt feels tight but the compressor is setup for two belts and I can only have one on it. I did not have this issue all last fall after the install.
Shortly after I turn the ac on the compressor causes the belt to squeal, rubber burning smell. I turn it off and after I have driven a few miles I turn the ac back on again with no issue.
This happens almost every time I drive the car after it has sat for a half hour or more.
I am going to try to tighten the belt per you advice and see what it does. Thanks
Shortly after I turn the ac on the compressor causes the belt to squeal, rubber burning smell. I turn it off and after I have driven a few miles I turn the ac back on again with no issue.
This happens almost every time I drive the car after it has sat for a half hour or more.
I am going to try to tighten the belt per you advice and see what it does. Thanks
Last edited by redwingvette; May 20, 2012 at 09:53 PM.
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Sounds like you may have too much refrigerant or oil in the system.
Compressor is Hydraulic locked when you turn it on. after initial selection some pressure escapes and compressor is allowed to turn again.
You dont say if your running a stock setup or aftermarket 134 or R12
Compressor is Hydraulic locked when you turn it on. after initial selection some pressure escapes and compressor is allowed to turn again.
You dont say if your running a stock setup or aftermarket 134 or R12
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
With all the squealing and burning smell, the belt is more than likely toast and should be replaced before going any further. If I were you, I would do this and if the new belt starts squealing, I would take the car to an a/c professional.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
Once again the people here are the best. I checked the belt for ware and decided to change it but before I did I did re adjust it to see if that would fix the problem. Sure enough it did. I guess that sitting through the winter the belt probably stretched a little which caused the problem.
Now I have a new belt and everything is fine.
Thanks guys.
Now I have a new belt and everything is fine.
Thanks guys.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
You're welcome. So that you are aware, I hope you didn't buy a cheap belt or you will be back revisiting your problem in short order. They stretch where premium belts are steel braided reinforced and do not.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,687
Likes: 833
From: WI
Could possibly be that the pully became slightly rusty over the winter and the drag from the compressor caused it to slip and wore the belt, or glazed it to the point where it just wouldn't grip anymore.
I think what I would do is when you go to replace the belt, I would engage the compressor with jumper wires (engine off, of course) and turn the compressor by hand to see if it is truely difficult to turn. To do this, remove the wire clip behind the compressor pulley and apply 12v from a battery and it will power the electromagnetic clutch. You should be able to turn it, but it won't spin freely. It'll require a little strength on your behalf, but not a tremendous amount that it would make you wince. I sort of liken it to if you've ever turned a lawn mower blade by hand under a lawn mower, about like that.
Once you get the belt installed and tensioned, I would engage the A/C while the car is at idle, not at road speed. See how that goes. Don't forget that the internally cogged belts have less surface area than the belts that came with your car.
I think what I would do is when you go to replace the belt, I would engage the compressor with jumper wires (engine off, of course) and turn the compressor by hand to see if it is truely difficult to turn. To do this, remove the wire clip behind the compressor pulley and apply 12v from a battery and it will power the electromagnetic clutch. You should be able to turn it, but it won't spin freely. It'll require a little strength on your behalf, but not a tremendous amount that it would make you wince. I sort of liken it to if you've ever turned a lawn mower blade by hand under a lawn mower, about like that.
Once you get the belt installed and tensioned, I would engage the A/C while the car is at idle, not at road speed. See how that goes. Don't forget that the internally cogged belts have less surface area than the belts that came with your car.
