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Old 06-17-2008, 01:37 PM   #1
AzN121184
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Default air condition pulley squeak?

so this thing i've highlighted in the picture squeaks on my car when it's spinning. How do i go about fixing it? what the hell is it called? a/c pulley? Im 100% certain it's not the belt itself, already tried that belt conditioner/dressing and it doesn't help. Any help is appreciated. Thanks



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Old 06-17-2008, 01:40 PM   #2
hybrid gti 2
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a/c clutch likely going out
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Old 06-17-2008, 01:42 PM   #3
AzN121184
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i'm not surprised if it was. I have about 112k miles on teh car. Now, would i be able to fix this myself? i have all the necessary tools/sockets/hammers/screwdrivers/impact tools even in my garage.
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Old 06-17-2008, 05:55 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 06-17-2008, 05:56 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AzN121184 View Post
i'm not surprised if it was. I have about 112k miles on teh car. Now, would i be able to fix this myself? i have all the necessary tools/sockets/hammers/screwdrivers/impact tools even in my garage.
Theres more to it then just bolting on a new compressor. You gotta flush out the AC system and all this legal bs stuff about where to discharge the system.
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Old 06-17-2008, 10:37 PM   #6
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The tensioner is a known issue w/ Subaru. Most dealers have them in stock. DIY in 20-60 min. depending on your ability and tools. Might as well do BOTH drivebelts while your at it. If its a more consistent howling (almost like a superchargers whine) it's probably your AC compressor. Not exactly something you want to do at home..unless you just happen to have a R134-A machine sitting in the corner of your garage collecting dust.

Last edited by jason.g; 06-17-2008 at 10:37 PM. Reason: grammar
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Old 06-18-2008, 05:17 PM   #7
AzN121184
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it's just something that squeaks a bit when the a/c is on. or when fans kick in.


it's definitely the part that i circled, cuz i would be staring directly at the damn thing squeak and i've traced it to the part that i circled in the diagram.

it's not loud, but it sure is annoying.
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Old 06-18-2008, 10:23 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AzN121184 View Post
it's just something that squeaks a bit when the a/c is on. or when fans kick in.


it's definitely the part that i circled, cuz i would be staring directly at the damn thing squeak and i've traced it to the part that i circled in the diagram.

it's not loud, but it sure is annoying.
I have the exact same problem, I tried tightening the belts last week, it reduced the problem, but did not resolve it. I was told by the mechanic that the A/C clutch needs to be replaced. I will go back to get the A/C clutch changed sometime this week. The mechanic told me that not replacing it will put a lot of extra wear on the belt when running a/c and defrost until it is replaced.
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Old 06-19-2008, 04:07 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryn View Post
I have the exact same problem, I tried tightening the belts last week, it reduced the problem, but did not resolve it. I was told by the mechanic that the A/C clutch needs to be replaced. I will go back to get the A/C clutch changed sometime this week. The mechanic told me that not replacing it will put a lot of extra wear on the belt when running a/c and defrost until it is replaced.


Did your a/c clutch constantly squeak? mine is just beginning to squeak intermittently.
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Old 06-25-2008, 04:12 AM   #10
pc06sti
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On my car it squeaks as soon as i turn on the ac for a few seconds, and then when ever the little wheel stops spinning ( when the fan kicks on or when I apply heavy throttle) the wheel will squeak once it starts spinning again only for a fraction of a second like a bird chirp. I went to the Stealership and asked for their opinion and of course they said its the ac compressor which is $650 plus labor. I told them that it has to be just the ac compressor clutch and they tried to convince me that if it is there is no way to replace just that part. I said well I'm not paying you to replace something that isn't broken, thank you and have good day.

Has anyone ever replaced just the compressor clutch? i saw them online for a few other vehicles and they seemed to be rather cheap like $40 to $70. Any input would be appreciated
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Old 06-25-2008, 06:06 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pc06sti View Post
On my car it squeaks as soon as i turn on the ac for a few seconds, and then when ever the little wheel stops spinning ( when the fan kicks on or when I apply heavy throttle) the wheel will squeak once it starts spinning again only for a fraction of a second like a bird chirp. I went to the Stealership and asked for their opinion and of course they said its the ac compressor which is $650 plus labor. I told them that it has to be just the ac compressor clutch and they tried to convince me that if it is there is no way to replace just that part. I said well I'm not paying you to replace something that isn't broken, thank you and have good day.

Has anyone ever replaced just the compressor clutch? i saw them online for a few other vehicles and they seemed to be rather cheap like $40 to $70. Any input would be appreciated
I got good news for you. I went back to the dealership and they decided that cleaning some dust out and trying to retighten the belt again might help. After doing so (they even did it at no charge!) the sound is back to stock level, and the car no longer dramatically jerks in low gear/rpm when the a/c comes on and off. The chirp sound is gone, and replaced with the very quiet sound that it had when stock when the a/c turns on and off. I am not sure where exactly they cleaned the dust from, but it worked and I am very happy. I suggest finding a place that will clean, then retighten the belts for you, if it works it will save you a lot of money.
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Old 07-08-2008, 01:26 PM   #12
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I just had the same issue for the first time today, loud squeaking with AC on, I popped the hood and the part you've circled was stopping sporadically with the belt just slipping over it, does this sound like a tensioner issue or could it be the ac clutch?

It was very clearly doing this when turning the AC on, it was also only happening at idle and going away once I got the revs up.
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Old 07-08-2008, 01:44 PM   #13
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I thought my AC pulley was squeeking as well... it turned out that part number 73130A was the culprit and it exploded about a week later.. all that I had left was a ragged belt and some chunks of the pulley.
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Old 04-06-2010, 02:55 PM   #14
genkidama20
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It's starting to warm up in NC, so I started to use my A/C and I'm having this same exact symptom...

Quick chirp comes from the car when A/C is on. It also affects power. Seems like I lose some HP for a split second when the car chirps.

I just installed new belts, so it could be that they got loose after a few days now. I may need to go back and tighten them again. I will report back with my findings later.


-----------------------------

Here's an update. See this thread: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...0#post30318950

Last edited by genkidama20; 04-06-2010 at 06:39 PM. Reason: UPDATE
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Old 06-02-2010, 08:34 PM   #15
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Unfortunately, you will lose power when the AC compressor is on. It is taking power from the engine to turn that compressor...thus not getting to your wheels.

I found this thread when looking for a solution to my problem. For years the chirp has been happening when the compressor clutch engages. I had just assumed that it was the belt slipping just a fraction of a second when the compressor engages. Unfortunately, something critical has failed now. I have not found a solution, but when the compressor engages now, the belt just slides over the pulley. Very little cooling, and a god awful noise.

I'll update when I find out what the issue is. I am really hoping that it is just a pulley or tensioner...
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Old 06-02-2010, 08:48 PM   #16
Pavoni8297
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yeah well I had the chirp and then........the pulley failed and knocked the timing belt off too....some of us are lucky......
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Old 06-02-2010, 11:17 PM   #17
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That's odd. The tensioner must have been loose.
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Old 06-19-2010, 06:36 PM   #18
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I had the exact same symptoms as everyone here...most notably the "chirp" when the compressor engages. Being the genius that I am, I assumed the belt was a hair too loose, so I should tighten it. About a week later, I had no A/C...

I popped the hood to see the idler pulley seized and half-melted, and the belt wearing a hole in the timing cover.

Now I just deal with the chirp, mainly because I don't use the AC much anyway, as it DESTROYS drivability.

The dust it gives off is awfully annoying, though. Makes my car look like a thoroughbred POS. Do not want.

If I didn't need defrost in the winter and on rainy/humid days, I'd toss this handicapped AC system under a train.
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Old 06-28-2010, 08:46 PM   #19
Turbedsti
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When the ac is on the part circled which is the ac clutch is supposed to spin,correct? But When the ac is off it doesnt spin,Because thats how mine is but i have a squeak and when it squeaks I saw that part circled hesitate and almost stop.I dont use the ac very often just when family is ridin with me.But the noise sucks and its pretty annoying!!I just want to know if Im understanding how this works, ac on it spins ac off it dont.
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Old 06-28-2010, 10:45 PM   #20
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a/c on the clutch spins. a/c off it will freely spin. Also no freon no compressor activation.
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Old 06-29-2010, 10:39 AM   #21
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i had the same problem. thought my clutch was going out. i checked the belt and it was tight. i put a couple more turns to make it tighter and BAAAAAM no squeak.
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Old 06-29-2010, 11:17 AM   #22
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Yeah, there should only be a 1/4"-1/2" deflection when you put moderate pressure on the belt, apply the pressure on it's longest span between pulleys.
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Old 06-29-2010, 05:46 PM   #23
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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
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Old 06-29-2010, 05:57 PM   #24
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Might have to give that a shot, Buck. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 06-29-2010, 09:55 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hybrid gti 2 View Post
a/c on the clutch spins. a/c off it will freely spin. Also no freon no compressor activation.
Thank you thats what I thought!
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