Hello: My '84 Mondial has an AC issue that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on. The car runs fine, but when I turn the AC on, I hear a loud squeal when under low RPMs (such as when idling at a light) which lasts for a second or two, stops for a second or two, and repeats. It sounds and acts as if the compressor has seized and, in fact, when I watch the AC belt when someone turns on the AC, I see the belt stop turning and hear the squeal. But, if the compressor is seizing, why would it only seize for a second or two, free up for a couple of seconds, and then seize again? Also, why would the compressor free up under higher RPM? And if it is the compressor failing, wouldn't the AC not pump out cold air, which it does. (Ice cold, in fact -- I love it.) I don't think that it is the AC clutch as, when the AC button is pressed in the car, the AC engages. (I hope that it's not the clutch! $$$) Could the compressor simply be on too tightly? I did recently have the belts replaced... My next action is to get under the car, remove the belt, and spin the pully by hand. In the meantime, has anyone experienced this? Thanks. --Jeremy
First thing I would check is the tension on v-belt....If it is loose, it explains all the other symptoms.....it starts and stops squealing as the the clutch is pulled in and let off according to demand by the unit. It stops squealing at higher rpm because there is some momentum in the clutch mass that makes it easier to start than at low rpm. Hope this helps.... Brock
Brock: Thanks for the reply. The tension is the first thing I'm going to check -- I was actually thinking that the tension would be too tight (if that is causing the issue), but your description makes sense. I did recently have the timing and aux belts changed, so a problem with belt tension makes sense. I'll post back once I have a chance to get under the car tomorrow. --Jeremy
The (new and correctly tensioned) belt on my '83 QV squeals as well for a split second every time the A/C compressor kicks in. I did have a compressor seize and the belt melted onto the clutch pulley, causing A LOT of smoke; I thought the car was on fire. Luckily, the belt material is good and it "internally" burn up without any visible, open fire. The smoldering stopped by itself after a while, me standing next the to engine bay with a fire extinguisher. Very unpleasant. It turned out that someone had removed the max. pressure valve at the dryer, so the compressor consistently overcharged the system. The result was very cold air (not bad unless...) and evaporator freeze, which was NOT detected because of a faulty evaporator temperature sender... The compressor finally gave up because it didn't cycle. I'd check the belt tension, that the compressor turns freely and that the clutch does disengage/engage properly according to the signal sent by the A/C computer. It must cycle, to my limited understanding of A/C systems.
