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Old 07-09-2010, 08:34 PM   #26
tubbytreats
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bucket7788 View Post
I've had this problem for a good while. Copious amounts of brake cleaner seems to have fixed it.

Spray here.



And here



With the engine off of course.

Buck
I have a 02 WRX with the exact same "compressor squeak" symptoms. I've also had a bad idler pulley in the past that makes more of a supercharger whine, this noise is certainly a different noise and cycles on and off as the compressor clutch is activated.

From a cold start on a cooler morning, I don't have any "compressor squeak", however as the day gets warmer the squeak becomes much more frequent (every 4-6 seconds when A/C is on and fan is set to high)

I just did the brake cleaner trick and will post up my results here over the next few days.
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Old 07-09-2010, 09:54 PM   #27
bucket7788
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The brake cleaner trick worked for a couple of days, then the problem returned. I guess I'll just have to pick up a used compressor.
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Old 07-09-2010, 10:06 PM   #28
Str8Gone
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My compressor was slipping on the belt too and gave off a burning smell. I just tightened up the tensioner pulley and it was fixed.
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Old 07-10-2010, 05:31 PM   #29
kraz88
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Make sure to check the belt. I just replaced mine and have about 56000 on MY02 WRX. The old belts looked fine checking them installed but tightening them was only a bandaid fix. When I pulled the belts off and checked the underside they were cracking all the way around. Replaced the belts and no more squeel when compressor kicks on. Belts were like $18 for alternator and $17 for AC at my local NAPA auto parts store. I've heard non OEM belts can fit improperly but these were just the right size.
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Old 07-10-2010, 06:06 PM   #30
02WRX<3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsalassi View Post
Does it squeak all the time or only when you start it? If its just at start check the belt tension. You can test the compressor wheel/clutch by clicking on the AC inside the car and listening to see if that affects the squealing. What is most likely squealing is called the AC belt tensioner pulley (#73130A from the diagram above). You can pick up a replacement one at your auto parts store for pretty cheap, i got mine for 30. Install took me like 20 mins.
This is the situation with my car. Thanks for the helpful comment.
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Old 07-13-2010, 08:31 AM   #31
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Just to clarify...

The noise that is happening to my 02WRX (and it seems the original poster) is the following:

This is NOT:
1) Just an ongoing A/C belt squeal from having old belts.
2) A supercharger "whine" that increases with engine RPM.

This noise happens ONLY when the A/C compressor clutch engages and the center hub of the compressor starts to spin (as indicated in the video)
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Old 07-16-2010, 04:28 PM   #32
tubbytreats
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I also wanted to note that on my car the A/C belt does not "slip" at all, and is tightened to the proper specs as per the Subaru Factory Service Manual. This noise (that sounds like a high pitched squeal) is not coming from the belt, but from the A/C clutch slipping.
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Old 07-17-2010, 06:24 PM   #33
Crazymofosob
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Mine was squeaking when i first turned it on then it would chirp each time the compressor kicked on. Mine ended up being the tensioner pulley.
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Old 07-17-2010, 09:02 PM   #34
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@Tubbytreats: have you found a way to fix this problem yet cause i have the same issue with my 02 rex.
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Old 07-21-2010, 11:25 AM   #35
tubbytreats
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Nope, but I am SURE that my accessory belt is NOT slipping on the pulley for the compressor. I am also SURE that the belt is not damaged, and that it is at the proper tension specs.

It definately is a squeal/screech caused by the compressor clutch trying to engage but slipping (very similar to transmission clutch slip but very loud). At a cold start, I don't get any A/C clutch slip, or when at low RPMs (ie: idling) I can leave my car idling with the A/C on for 10 mins and have a freezing cold car to hop into.

But once revs go above 3,000 and the compressor clutch warms up, it starts slipping every time the relay tells the compressor to engage. I don't see a way of adjusting the A/C clutch to tighten up the play between the disc surfaces...although I did see someone who disassembled his A/C clutch (not the entire compressor) and then had some success for a short bit.

When I get the time (and less outside heat) I'll probably try to take the pulley wheel and clutch off of the A/C compressor and see if there is any tightening I can do to fix the clutch issue.
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Old 08-04-2010, 07:34 PM   #36
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the brake cleaner will clean that dust in between the air gap .if air gap goes bad you need new compressor .no more engagement
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Old 08-11-2010, 11:28 PM   #37
slednshred
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Default 03 WRX ac compressor clutch

My 03 wrx has the exact same problem as in Tubbytreat's video shown above. Did anyone get the problem fixed yet? Curious as to how much it costs to fix with time, parts, labor, etc.
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Old 08-12-2010, 11:33 AM   #38
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Same happening to my ride now. Will try brake cleaner fix.
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Old 08-12-2010, 11:56 AM   #39
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You guys did notice in that video that the belt is slipping to the point it will start smoking pretty soon.
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Old 11-22-2010, 02:12 PM   #40
rodzilla
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Angry My ac died

My a/c died yesterday and I have had the same problem you guys were mentioning for about 2 years..my suby is an 02 and its time for a compressor..not even my chevy 89 would do this to me..
guess ill go hunting junkyards
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Old 02-23-2011, 08:38 AM   #41
tubbytreats
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Napa sells a Subaru Impreza A/C compressor unit (with clutch assembly) for $292:
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Det...+50068+2068006

Maybe a local shop would install for you, sure beats the MSRP $543.87 for the Subaru A/C Compressor!
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Old 07-08-2011, 07:23 AM   #42
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Old 07-21-2011, 02:17 PM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tubbytreats View Post
Just to clarify...

The noise that is happening to my 02WRX (and it seems the original poster) is the following:
YouTube- Air Conditioning Squeak Problem

This is NOT:
1) Just an ongoing A/C belt squeal from having old belts.
2) A supercharger "whine" that increases with engine RPM.

This noise happens ONLY when the A/C compressor clutch engages and the center hub of the compressor starts to spin (as indicated in the video)

Thread bump......

I have had this same issue in my 02 wrx for a couple years now. It has gotten progressively worse as I use the AC. I have been doing the Brake Cleaner and it works to an extent. Call my tuner and they said they build up dust inside the AC clutch and sometimes blowing them out with air compressor ill help a lot. I tried it and while it didn't look like I was getting any dust out, the squealing had gone way down. Sometimes not even doing it, to only squealing a little at first.

I was going to ask if anyone knows a way to pull the face of the AC compressor off to get all of the dust out and reinstall it? Been searching and haven't found anything on the forum but I believe this is the issue.
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Old 07-21-2011, 02:28 PM   #44
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Be absolutely sure your belt is tight enough. You notice in that video it is not the clutch slipping. Multi-rib V belts need to be much tighter than single v-belts. Not saying the compressor never goes bad but check that first.

Not sure what spraying brake cleaner in the clutch does. Maybe it puts debris on the face so it slips a little to start up.
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Old 07-22-2011, 09:50 AM   #45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tubbytreats View Post
Nope, but I am SURE that my accessory belt is NOT slipping on the pulley for the compressor. I am also SURE that the belt is not damaged, and that it is at the proper tension specs.

It definately is a squeal/screech caused by the compressor clutch trying to engage but slipping (very similar to transmission clutch slip but very loud). At a cold start, I don't get any A/C clutch slip, or when at low RPMs (ie: idling) I can leave my car idling with the A/C on for 10 mins and have a freezing cold car to hop into.

But once revs go above 3,000 and the compressor clutch warms up, it starts slipping every time the relay tells the compressor to engage. I don't see a way of adjusting the A/C clutch to tighten up the play between the disc surfaces...although I did see someone who disassembled his A/C clutch (not the entire compressor) and then had some success for a short bit.

When I get the time (and less outside heat) I'll probably try to take the pulley wheel and clutch off of the A/C compressor and see if there is any tightening I can do to fix the clutch issue.
subscribed.

i had read that this is due to the clutch plates being worn out and when the unit heats up, it slips. you are entirely correct - no belt/tensioner issues.

i have read about someone shimming the clutch plates, search for ac belt squeal.

how did you get the camera to stay so steady when filming the video?
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Old 07-22-2011, 10:10 AM   #46
bucket7788
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Just an update. I've been using the AC sparingly. It's still working. It seems to work much better when I allow the engine to warm up to normal operating temp prior to kicking the AC on. If I kick it on when the engine is cold, the problem is much worse. Trueno, that is opposite of what you've read. I dunno. I just hope I can limp through the rest of the summer before I have to replace it.

Rick, I think the brake cleaner actually cleans rust / debris off of the friction faces so that it grabs better. The first time I did it, I got a crap load of red material out of there. Since then, not as much. It's still working though.

Buck
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Old 07-26-2011, 07:36 PM   #47
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this happened to the ac on my ej22.. but now everything about my ac works it just doesnt blow cold air anymore.. but the squeak is gone haha

I didnt try anything to fix it yet.. any idea?
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Old 07-26-2011, 10:52 PM   #48
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Originally Posted by bovaddict View Post
this happened to the ac on my ej22.. but now everything about my ac works it just doesnt blow cold air anymore.. but the squeak is gone haha

I didnt try anything to fix it yet.. any idea?
put some guages on it.
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Old 01-10-2012, 07:28 AM   #49
tubbytreats
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Updated link to the NAPA replacement compressor ($369.99):
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...RecType%3aA%29
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Old 01-10-2012, 07:37 AM   #50
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