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replace a/c compressor or clutch


KenD

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I am now enjoying a quiet ride ever since I placed a shorter belt on bypassing my a/c compressor. What I was going to do was replace my compressor since I thought it was shot. Here's the scenario:

When the normal caddy belt is on (meaning that the belt is not bypassing the compressor, but rotating the pulley) there is a minor knocking/growling noise from the compressor when I have it in park or neutral, but gets much more aggressive when in reverse or any drive gear. When the a/c is on, it blows cold air and works fine when the clutch engages. There is no noise when the clutch engages. As soon as the clutch pulls back the noise starts again. So, in retrospect, the compressor works fine when the clutch engages and it does blow cool air.

A friend at the gym, who builds hot rods, suspects that it may only be the clutch that has to be replaced. I thought I would throw this deal out to anyone who may have had a similar problem and what they did about it.

Any takers?

P.S. The compressor bearing was replaced a couple of months ago.

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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It sounds like the hub bearing is defective. I would replace the bearing only or buy the hub and bearing as a set and install it on the compressor. An OEM bearing can be purchased for about $30.00 from your local Cadillac dealer. It can be replaced by removing the hub and bringing it to a machine shop and having the old bearing pressed out and new bearing pressed in. A hub and clutch assembly costs about $100.00. No machine shop needed as the bearing is already in the hub. You will need special tools to both remove the hub and put it back on. You should be able to find and rent the tools needed from an auto parts dealer. I wouldn’t look to spend hundreds of dollars for a new compressor unless it’s absolutely necessary.

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Thanks for the answer MAC. I'll look into the hub and clutch assembly.

Larry, why do you think it's the clutch? I'm yearning for knowledge on this one as I've finally traced it to this component after about 5 months of searching for where this noise was coming from. I had the dealer tell me it's my compressor or my alternator. I changed both my idler and tensioner thinking it might be those two things. (although it did get rid of some squeeling that I had) so in hindsight they should have been replaced anyways.

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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My A/C compressor makes a growling/ticking/grumbling type noise when the clutch is engaged. My power steering sounds like a mini supercharger/whistle.. I don't really remember if it sounded any different when I got the car.. i just assumed this was normal. It's not like one day it was quiet and the next day it was making noise. The power steering whine is a little interesting though :> Wonder if i can quiet that down without replacing the pump.. maybe flushing the system or something.. dunno.. the a/c i'm not even worried about it.. just let it run until it breaks :>

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My A/C compressor makes a growling/ticking/grumbling type noise when the clutch is engaged.   My power steering sounds like a mini supercharger/whistle..   I don't really remember if it sounded any different when I got the car.. i just assumed this was normal.  It's not like one day it was quiet and the next day it was making noise.    The power steering whine is a little interesting though :> Wonder if i can quiet that down without replacing the pump.. maybe flushing the system or something.. dunno.. the a/c i'm not even worried about it.. just let it run until it breaks :>

Don't assume that the noise is coming from your power steering pump. Before my AC Compressor hub went it sounded like the power steering pump was bad and whinning, when it was the AC hub all along. Its amazing how loud the compressor hub bearing and related noise and vibration is when its bad. If you want to quickly diagnose your noise buy a shorter belt (6K739 or a tad longer) and eliminate the AC Compressor from the serpentine belt circuit. You will be amazed I am sure how much noise your compressor is making. Mine when from embarrisingly loud and nasty to SILENT! AND it sounded like the power steering pump and or alternator was bad.... It is very difficult to localize the noise, although I did not try bbobynski's 3/4" hose method, which I should have, I just did not have any hose laying around. Mike

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My A/C compressor makes a growling/ticking/grumbling type noise when the clutch is engaged.   My power steering sounds like a mini supercharger/whistle..   I don't really remember if it sounded any different when I got the car.. i just assumed this was normal.  It's not like one day it was quiet and the next day it was making noise.    The power steering whine is a little interesting though :> Wonder if i can quiet that down without replacing the pump.. maybe flushing the system or something.. dunno.. the a/c i'm not even worried about it.. just let it run until it breaks :>

Don't assume that the noise is coming from your power steering pump. Before my AC Compressor hub went it sounded like the power steering pump was bad and whinning, when it was the AC hub all along. Its amazing how loud the compressor hub bearing and related noise and vibration is when its bad. If you want to quickly diagnose your noise buy a shorter belt (6K739 or a tad longer) and eliminate the AC Compressor from the serpentine belt circuit. You will be amazed I am sure how much noise your compressor is making. Mine when from embarrisingly loud and nasty to SILENT! AND it sounded like the power steering pump and or alternator was bad.... It is very difficult to localize the noise, although I did not try bbobynski's 3/4" hose method, which I should have, I just did not have any hose laying around. Mike

PS: KenD had a similar experience where he thought it was his power steering pump and it turned out to be this AC Compressor making all the noise, maybe he will confirm that for us, Mike

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Bingo Scotty, I origially thought it was my p/s pump and was ready to replace it right then and there since that's where the noise was most prominent. Before I replaced it I flushed the fluid hoping that by some miracle, I didn't have to start digging and pulling parts out. Well, it didn't work, but there's new clean fluid there and it was extremely easy to flush it out. :)

I did what was suggested by a few members on the board and just put on a shorter belt, bypassing the ac compressor. Took about 15 minutes to R&R the belt and now there is no noise. It's the nicest thing.

Now just to figure out how to approach the compressor. Do I replace the hub and bearing or just replace the whole darn thing.

K

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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Hmm.. it's only a 99 with 78 or 79k miles on it.. I would think the ac compressor would last longer than that :> I certainly don't want to have to take the compressor totally out and replace it.. working on car AC is such a pain if you don't have all the right equipment :/

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Hmm.. it's only a 99 with 78 or 79k miles on it..  I would think the ac compressor would last longer than that :>    I certainly don't want to have to take the compressor totally out and replace it.. working on car AC is such a pain if you don't have all the right equipment :/

I plan to do the work and take it to a local RADIATOR/COOLING shop that will evacuate it and recharge it for $150. I just got my new compressor today, it looks nice! I still need to purchase the accumulator.

I have a bunch of questions however:

1) Where is the orifice tube

1a) If there are no particles in the orifice tube can I assume that all was fine in my compressor and no purging is necessary?

2) Should I replace the orifice tube

3) When I put the new accumulator in if I don't get it charged till the next day will the active ingredient in the accumulator be damaged from the air that is still in the system? Or should I replace the accumulator in the parking lot of the place that is going to charge it? I understand that AIR damages the accumulator.

4) How much oil to I put in for the compressor and how much for the accumulator?

5) Once I 'replace' the oil from the new parts, how do I know that I have enough oil at that point?

6) Do I need to purge the system with a cleaner to get all oil out? (I hope not).

Thanks, Mike

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Larry, why do you think it's the clutch?

"There is no noise when the clutch engages. As soon as the clutch pulls back the noise starts again."

If there is noise only when the clutch is disengaged that would rule out the compressor I would think. If the compressor were the problem I would expect noise when it is engaged. Perhaps there is enough load on the clutch when the compressor is engaged to quiet it down...... for now.

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Larry, why do you think it's the clutch?

"There is no noise when the clutch engages. As soon as the clutch pulls back the noise starts again."

If there is noise only when the clutch is disengaged that would rule out the compressor I would think. If the compressor were the problem I would expect noise when it is engaged. Perhaps there is enough load on the clutch when the compressor is engaged to quiet it down...... for now.

I tend to agree, I think you could get away with changing your hub assembly, assuming that you did not seriously overheat the clutch. I should have changed my hub and I wouldn't have had to replace the compressor now. I overheated my clutch and it shorted out internally blowing a fuse (over and over). That your AC was working when you took the belt off is good, was it working? That means the your front seal is intact. I guess if you wanted to be a fanatic you could replace your accumulator and look at the orifice tube for debris and have it evacuated and recharged. I have a hub assembly for my 91 Seville that you could have had, but I don't think it fits... Mike

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WAY off topic here....

Scotty:

Have you read that James Doohan has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease?? Poor guy does not need any more medical complications.....

Jim

Drive your car.

Use your cell phone.

CHOOSE ONE !

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WAY off topic here....

Scotty:

Have you read that James Doohan has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease??  Poor guy does not need any more medical complications.....

Jim are you confusing me, or am I confusing you, or am I confused, LOL... I do know that I sometimes write before I read fully, so I may be redundant at times, if that is what you are referring to.... LOL> I tend to DIG DEEPLY into the problem and gather all the information I can before I dig my teeth into it. I am aware I am talking on a bunch of COMPRESSOR threads, SORRY., LOL..... Mike

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