kartherma
10-14-2008, 05:05 AM
hello all, it has been a while since i have posted...sorry for the absence.
Anyways, I have searched and came up with alot of info but nothing here matches what I am experiencing.
I had the chirp when the a/c kicked in. Cool. I replaced the tension pulley, idler pulley (smooth one) and the belt. Chirp went away, but...
Just before the drive home from work (before I replaced above components) it seemed that the symptoms had gotten worse. A rattle or chatter comes in fairly predictable intervals. Initially it seemed that the tensioner was bouncing when the sound started (when I looked at it in the parking lot at work). It also got hot and the a/c seemed to suddenly not blow as cold. I turned the a/c off and drove it home with no overheating issues in stop and go traffic.
I got home and replaced all the above thinking the tensioner/belt had finally gotten to the point of no return. After that 20 minute job and a restart of the engine...no chirp but the chatter problem is still there.
I can see when the a/c kicks in the tensioner arm moves an inch or so (indicating heavier load on the belt I am guessing) and moves back when it kicks out again. Within a few seconds of the a/c kicking out is when the chatter kicks in. Initially I was thinking the sound was from the alternator but after more listening it seems more from the a/c area but I give up saying for 100percent sure.
Ideas in my mind at this point are:
a/c clutch is slipping
a/c clutch relay is triggering several engage/disengage events rapidly (but the tensioner doesnt move like when it kicks on)
any other ideas?
Is this a symptom that the "pull the a/c clutch and re-shim" procedure would fix?
what would it take to replace the a/c clutch? can it be ordered seperately?
thanks!
Be good!
Curt
Anyways, I have searched and came up with alot of info but nothing here matches what I am experiencing.
I had the chirp when the a/c kicked in. Cool. I replaced the tension pulley, idler pulley (smooth one) and the belt. Chirp went away, but...
Just before the drive home from work (before I replaced above components) it seemed that the symptoms had gotten worse. A rattle or chatter comes in fairly predictable intervals. Initially it seemed that the tensioner was bouncing when the sound started (when I looked at it in the parking lot at work). It also got hot and the a/c seemed to suddenly not blow as cold. I turned the a/c off and drove it home with no overheating issues in stop and go traffic.
I got home and replaced all the above thinking the tensioner/belt had finally gotten to the point of no return. After that 20 minute job and a restart of the engine...no chirp but the chatter problem is still there.
I can see when the a/c kicks in the tensioner arm moves an inch or so (indicating heavier load on the belt I am guessing) and moves back when it kicks out again. Within a few seconds of the a/c kicking out is when the chatter kicks in. Initially I was thinking the sound was from the alternator but after more listening it seems more from the a/c area but I give up saying for 100percent sure.
Ideas in my mind at this point are:
a/c clutch is slipping
a/c clutch relay is triggering several engage/disengage events rapidly (but the tensioner doesnt move like when it kicks on)
any other ideas?
Is this a symptom that the "pull the a/c clutch and re-shim" procedure would fix?
what would it take to replace the a/c clutch? can it be ordered seperately?
thanks!
Be good!
Curt