2001 a/c compressor whines when turned on
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 114
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From: orlando fl
2001 a/c compressor whines when turned on
I've got a problem with the compressor on the 2001 C5 - When I turn the a/c on, the compressor has a whine to it - so I checked the pressure on the low side, and it was at 35psi - the line sweats, and the a/c still is cold, works fine - but when it's on, it has a bad whining noise, that gets slightly louder on accelleration, when the compressor spins more. Any Ideas? Add the synthetic oil? What should the PSI be at on the low side of this system?
I just took it out to lunch right now, and the a/c is still ice cold - like ice forming on my face - and still the whining noise when it's on...
-Jeff
I just took it out to lunch right now, and the a/c is still ice cold - like ice forming on my face - and still the whining noise when it's on...
-Jeff
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Ok,, so I took a 3 week vacation.
If the compressor whines when engaged and not when the clutch is disengaged it is in a dying state. I would expect it to soon fail. Only once did I install a compressor that whined and it began leaking and knocking within 2000 miles. I had to pull and replace it also.
Now I only install NEW AC compressors and clutches.
What I can't tell from your note is,
is the whine the same as new
Has it changed since you bought it
how loud is the whine?
So I can only give a generic answer to whine. You might check the tension pulley with the belt off to see if it is rough and begins to make noise when loaded as the compressor comes on. But otherwise I still put my $$ on soon failure of the compressor. It is by far better to change before the compressor fails while it is still cooling. This will prevent contamination from spreading through out the system on catastrophic failure. I have only done one system that had an instant stoppage of the compressor and had to flush the entire system. The flush materials cost me about $100 not counting the time. The system did work well after the repair, but a compressor change prior to failure is best bet. 99 Nassau Blue
If the compressor whines when engaged and not when the clutch is disengaged it is in a dying state. I would expect it to soon fail. Only once did I install a compressor that whined and it began leaking and knocking within 2000 miles. I had to pull and replace it also.
Now I only install NEW AC compressors and clutches.
What I can't tell from your note is,
is the whine the same as new
Has it changed since you bought it
how loud is the whine?
So I can only give a generic answer to whine. You might check the tension pulley with the belt off to see if it is rough and begins to make noise when loaded as the compressor comes on. But otherwise I still put my $$ on soon failure of the compressor. It is by far better to change before the compressor fails while it is still cooling. This will prevent contamination from spreading through out the system on catastrophic failure. I have only done one system that had an instant stoppage of the compressor and had to flush the entire system. The flush materials cost me about $100 not counting the time. The system did work well after the repair, but a compressor change prior to failure is best bet. 99 Nassau Blue
