Squeeling AC belt or pulley issue..

99imprezd · 01-19-2011, 02:25 PM

My 2003 TS wagon just started making this weird ass chirping and squeeling noise. It sounds like its coming from the small belt that goes to the AC compressor and tensioner pulley. It sounds like a belt noise but could be one of these pulleys. At speed it will make the same repetative noise in patterns of 5 or 6 seconds where it sounds like a freakin Cicada or birds singing over and over and over. It starts slow and gets faster and faster until its a steady noise then stops. Then repeats. I sprayed belt dressing on the pulleys and belt and the noise pretty much vanishes for about a day if Im lucky. But then right back to the noise. The belt is newer... WTF? Do the Ac compressors go bad or the tensioner pulleys? Can I replace just the AC compressor pulley and not the whole compressor? Super annoying.. my car sounds like a total peice, I need to remedy this issue STAT!! thanks.

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yarrgh · 01-19-2011, 10:29 PM

Stat, eh? have you tried properly tensioning the belt?

renyo · 01-19-2011, 10:33 PM

AC Compressors/pulleys and the tensioner pulleys do go bad. The AC pulley technically is replaceable without replacing the compressor, but no one does it and it's not really made to be replaced. The tensioner pulley tends to go on some older cars. If either of the two are going though, you'll get a metal whining sound that's very audible at idle.

01-19-2011, 02:25 PM	#1
99imprezd Scooby Specialist Member#: 198964 Join Date: Jan 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: south NJ Vehicle: 2004 WRX wgn, built! WRB	Squeeling AC belt or pulley issue.. My 2003 TS wagon just started making this weird ass chirping and squeeling noise. It sounds like its coming from the small belt that goes to the AC compressor and tensioner pulley. It sounds like a belt noise but could be one of these pulleys. At speed it will make the same repetative noise in patterns of 5 or 6 seconds where it sounds like a freakin Cicada or birds singing over and over and over. It starts slow and gets faster and faster until its a steady noise then stops. Then repeats. I sprayed belt dressing on the pulleys and belt and the noise pretty much vanishes for about a day if Im lucky. But then right back to the noise. The belt is newer... WTF? Do the Ac compressors go bad or the tensioner pulleys? Can I replace just the AC compressor pulley and not the whole compressor? Super annoying.. my car sounds like a total peice, I need to remedy this issue STAT!! thanks. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-19-2011, 10:29 PM	#2
yarrgh Scooby Specialist Member#: 80465 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Aurora, CO Vehicle: 2001 2.5RS Black Diamond Pearl	Stat, eh? have you tried properly tensioning the belt?

01-19-2011, 10:33 PM	#3
renyo Scooby Newbie Member#: 93577 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Orlando, unfortunately Vehicle: 98 Impreza	AC Compressors/pulleys and the tensioner pulleys do go bad. The AC pulley technically is replaceable without replacing the compressor, but no one does it and it's not really made to be replaced. The tensioner pulley tends to go on some older cars. If either of the two are going though, you'll get a metal whining sound that's very audible at idle.