Questions and Answers
A/C Compressor Noise
Q. The above vehicle, 1995 Pontiac Bonneville SE A/C 3.8 Liter non-turbo-VIN "K" is making a squealing noise from the A/C compressor (isolated by using the old wooden stick to the component and ear) this occurs whether the A/C is on or off and is intermittent but will only stop for a few minutes occasionally.
My Pontiac dealer's service dept. says that the bearings are bad in the compressor and wants approximately $1200.00 to replace the compressor and clutch, accumulator and orifice tube.
My question is, if the compressor bearings are bad why do I still hear the squeal when the air conditioning is turned off and the compressor is supposedly disengaged???
The air conditioning works fine (blows cold air and I checked temperature at one air duct with one vent open and all others closed) I get a temperature reading of 58 degrees F. after approx. 3-5 minutes with air set at max. and fan on high. This has been going on for approx. 3 months and 4,000 miles. (vehicle has 93,000 miles on it and I am the original owner).
A. Sounds to me like the A/C compressor itself is okay, it's the clutch that's starting to go bad. There is a bearing in the clutch the spins even though it's not engaged. Replacing the A/C compressor and all that other stuff will certainly fix the problem. Actually, all you need is a new compressor clutch. That is replaceable separately from the A/C compressor itself. Most times it can be done on the car and there is no need to evacuate and recharge the system.
It is easier to replace the whole compressor, but if you have a bad lifter, you don't change the whole engine. We're talking a $200.00 to $300.00 job versus a $1200.00 job
