Stinkin' A/C Compressor Belt Squeal '06 Silverado K2500 6.0L

[GASoline71]

I am about sick and fed up with the belt and low tension issue on the A/C compressor in my '06 K2500 6.0L. I have read a couple TSB's and know that the compressor being mounted as low as it is in the engine compartment seems to cause issues with it having to work harder or something or other. The things squeals like a pig on initial startup every morning, and takes almost 5 minutes to stop. Then it will do it again if the engine is shut off and allowed to cool back to cold iron. I have replaced the tensioner twice (both different brands) and the belt at least a half dozen times with a few different brands as well.

But now since I used the A/C a lot on vacation in Eastern Washington during the summer... the thing squeals even worse, and now is always puking water/condensation out of the drain port from the firewall. I mean, it never stops leaking water out of that port until the engine is shut off. I really hope I don't have to replace a compressor, but if that's my only option... I will bite the bullet.

Anybody else with this issue?

Gary

[95 S_Trucker]

I would replace the compressor clutch.

And It is normal for water to Come out of the drain tube while the A/C or defroster is on.

[GASoline71]

Out of all the things Ive done as far as mechanical goes on cars and trucks go... I've never messed with anything A/C related. Except for squirting a little refridgerant in them.

Do I need to replace the whole unit? or just the A/C clutch itself?

Gary

[clinebarger]

A new clutch will not fix this.

Did you add any Freon or oil to the system?

The Denso compressor that's used on your truck had issues with one of the reeds breaking off the reed plate as a result of Oil Slugging, Denso redesigned the Compressor in '05 to fix the issue. Have not ran across Slugging issues on '05 & '06 trucks.

You have removed the A/C belt & made sure it is the source of the noise? As in, reinstall the main drive belt & test for noise.

[68C15]

Too much oil in the system?

[95 S_Trucker]

If it squeals when the a/c is turned off, then the problem is not in the compressor.

[GASoline71]

So... finally got around to taking the belt off and running it. What a PITA. lol... Also, I have never serviced the A/C system, so as far as I know it's got the original Freon and oil in it from the factory. I bought the truck in '09.

Anyways... it's not the A/C belt! It's the damn main serpentine belt. It's also new with a new tensioner. Brand is Dayco from my local parts house. I ran just the A/C belt, and then just the main serp belt. I had not yet started the truck today so it should have squealed like a pig. The A/c belt made no noise. Not even when I turned the A/C on max for a few minutes. Took that belt off and ran just the serp belt... SCRRRREEEEEECCHHH! right at start up. It has a 2 year old power steering pump and probably the stock original alternator. Belt and tensioner were replaced the same time the A/C belt was done.

This is the 3rd late model GM truck I have owned, and ALL of them have serpentine or A/C belt squeals. My brother in law (diesel mechanic for the county) said that with all the GM trucks in their fleet, they finally had to switch them over to Goodyear Gatorback belts and Goodyear tensioners to get rid of belt squeal. I had taken that advice on 1994 and 1996 rigs, and the squealing belts went away pronto.

Looks like I will try that on this truck too.

Gary

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

So... finally got around to taking the belt off and running it. What a PITA. lol... Also, I have never serviced the A/C system, so as far as I know it's got the original Freon and oil in it from the factory. I bought the truck in '09.

Anyways... it's not the A/C belt! It's the damn main serpentine belt. It's also new with a new tensioner. Brand is Dayco from my local parts house. I ran just the A/C belt, and then just the main serp belt. I had not yet started the truck today so it should have squealed like a pig. The A/c belt made no noise. Not even when I turned the A/C on max for a few minutes. Took that belt off and ran just the serp belt... SCRRRREEEEEECCHHH! right at start up. It has a 2 year old power steering pump and probably the stock original alternator. Belt and tensioner were replaced the same time the A/C belt was done.

This is the 3rd late model GM truck I have owned, and ALL of them have serpentine or A/C belt squeals. My brother in law (diesel mechanic for the county) said that with all the GM trucks in their fleet, they finally had to switch them over to Goodyear Gatorback belts and Goodyear tensioners to get rid of belt squeal. I had taken that advice on 1994 and 1996 rigs, and the squealing belts went away pronto.

Looks like I will try that on this truck too.

Gary

I have seen ALOT I mean ALOT of GM trucks with the PS pulley pressed on to far or not enough.

[GASoline71]

I will have to check that. Not sure if they reused the original P/S pulley or not when the power steering pump was replaced (at dealer). Now that I think of it... it's older than 2 years. I bought the truck in '09 and it had steering issues and so the dealer replaced the pump at their cost.

I noticed that the crank pulley and alternator pulley are shiny along the raised ribs, and the P/S pully is still completely black. Not that it means anything, but just something I noticed. I guess I need to put a straight edge from the crank pulley to the P/S pulley and see how in line they are.

Another note... today when I started the truck from cold iron the belts didn't make a sound! WTF? They have been whining and screeching for months. I remove them and put them back, and now they make no noise? We'll see how tomorrows startup goes.

Gary

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I will have to check that. Not sure if they reused the original P/S pulley or not when the power steering pump was replaced (at dealer). Now that I think of it... it's older than 2 years. I bought the truck in '09 and it had steering issues and so the dealer replaced the pump at their cost.

I noticed that the crank pulley and alternator pulley are shiny along the raised ribs, and the P/S pully is still completely black. Not that it means anything, but just something I noticed. I guess I need to put a straight edge from the crank pulley to the P/S pulley and see how in line they are.

Another note... today when I started the truck from cold iron the belts didn't make a sound! WTF? They have been whining and screeching for months. I remove them and put them back, and now they make no noise? We'll see how tomorrows startup goes.

Gary

Did you buy chance put the belt on Backwards & is running the opposite direction now, That will fix it temporarily 'till it glazes over again.

A Goodyear Gatorback will work for a long time because of the Rib design.

[GASoline71]

I bet I did exactly that... this morning was the second day in a row it did not squeal. Guess I just need to flip the belt every couple of weeks.

Gonna install gatorbacks soon.

Gary