Strange AC problem?

[ApacheIvan]

Is my alternator bad? When I turn on my AC my alternator sounds like it is going out. sounds like the bearings in the alternator starts squealing, it is fairly new, the belt is tight, turn the AC off and all is great. I thought it was a belt at first, but it is coming from the alternator for sure.. anyone else have that happen?

[truckster]

AC does increase the electrical load. That's the only connection I can think of.

[Andy4639]

How do you have the belts routed? Is this the old v-belts are serpintine belt.
The compressor electrical out put will not make the alternator bearing go out and if it runs ok with the ac off then its in the compressor side.
I would find it hard to be the alternator on what you have posted.

The only thing I can think is one of the components isn't lined up good and putting stress on the alternator pulley.

[Stocker]

Mine is making sounds similar to what you describe, but my stethoscope says the noise is coming from the compressor.
My alternator, water pump, and PS pump all sound normal.
Just bought the compressor at NAPA.... and it was made in China.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

How do you have the belts routed? Is this the old v-belts are serpintine belt.
The compressor electrical out put will not make the alternator bearing go out and if it runs ok with the ac off then its in the compressor side.
I would find it hard to be the alternator on what you have posted.

The only thing I can think is one of the components isn't lined up good and putting stress on the alternator pulley.

It is the stock configuration, stock type belts. I will do a bit more investigation today with a stethoscope and see if I can pin it down. All the alignment looks fine. It sure sounds like the alternator side.

[ApacheIvan]

Ok, so I guess I should not assume I am having the same issue twice. Just popped the hood and turned on the AC at idle and I can see the clutch hesitating at times, meaning it looks like I have a strobe light on it.. it is either failing or needs freon or oil.. I am not really savvy on the internal working of an A6 compressor, I don't want to throw away money trying to figure out if I need to replace the compressor, they are expensive enough.

Suggestions?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by ApacheIvan

..... turned on the AC at idle and I can see the clutch hesitating at times, meaning it looks like I have a strobe light on it.. it is either failing or needs freon or oil..

Subscribed... my new compressor also occasionally cycles on-off-on rapidly, the shop said the system is full....??

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Subscribed... my new compressor also occasionally cycles on-off-on rapidly, the shop said the system is full....??

Yeah, I just had mine professionally charged, I have no reason to believe it is leaking. I am going to go to Autozone and get a can of r134 with oil and add a can to it and see if it clears up at all. Seems like the cheapest way to do a quick analysis.

[mrein3]

Tighten the AC belt.

When I got my AC up and running for the first time (all stock parts) the compressor howled like crazy. I had the belt tight. I made it REALLY tight and the problem went away.

Those old compressors do suck up some juice from the engine.

[cleszkie]

Also make sure you are running the right belt width for your pulleys. A belt that is too narrow will bottom out in the pulley groove, and no amount of tightening will keep it from slipping. The belt should only be in contact with the sides of the pulley grove. Not trying to insult your intelligence. I made this mistake on an alternator belt once, and I consider myself a pretty savvy mechanic.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by cleszkie

Also make sure you are running the right belt width for your pulleys. A belt that is too narrow will bottom out in the pulley groove, and no amount of tightening will keep it from slipping. The belt should only be in contact with the sides of the pulley grove. Not trying to insult your intelligence. I made this mistake on an alternator belt once, and I consider myself a pretty savvy mechanic.

Well the system would not take anymore r134 I did as you suggested and retightened the belt that quieted it down at idle.. still squeals a bit when you rev it up. It does look like it sits way down in the pulley, they look right for the fan and crank pulley though. The belt is a 15555 it is .44 wide.. I am going to see if I can find something a bit fatter.

ugh.. all this and I am going to have to pull the POA valve here soon to get it readjusted for r134 anyways..Want to make sure the compressor is ok before I pull the POA valve out.. I don't want to charge and recharge more than I have too.. too damn expensive

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by cleszkie

Also make sure you are running the right belt width for your pulleys. A belt that is too narrow will bottom out in the pulley groove, and no amount of tightening will keep it from slipping. The belt should only be in contact with the sides of the pulley grove. Not trying to insult your intelligence. I made this mistake on an alternator belt once, and I consider myself a pretty savvy mechanic.

Well this kinda worked. I went from the series 15 to 17 which is wider, it fits better in the AC groove but now sits way to high on the wp pulley and crank. You can see it try to twist to fit better in those grooves. I suppose the AC pulley is wrong. I am sure the belt that was on it 15555 and bought at AutoZone. I might try a different brand. It is not squealing anymore though

[cleszkie]

A small portion of the belt should be visible above the top of the pulley grove. That is normal. If your belt is trying to twist, sounds like you may have a pulley alignment issue.

[Andy4639]

Post some pictures of the belt and from straight over top of the motor over the pulleys. This will help a lot.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Post some pictures of the belt and from straight over top of the motor over the pulleys. This will help a lot.

I will take some pictures tomorrow when it is light out. Everything is fine and looks lined up, alt, ps, even the ac, but when you kick the clutch in on the ac, no matter how tight the belt is the belt dont seem to want to grip all the time. I am using a 15555 from AZ. this belt has the cogs on the pulley side, I might try the other type with the cog side up, my alt belt is a dayco that is smooth pulley side.

When I put the wider belt, it was wider than the rest of my belts, 17 series, it was too tall for the crank and wp pulley and when the clutch was in it didn't look like it wanted to sit in the pulley very well, I put the 15 series back in for now. I don't know if the A6 compressor may have a narrower pulley and I may just have the wrong pulley on mine.. again, I will take some pics tomorrow..

[Andy4639]

What brackets are you using? The brackets need to be all tight. I mean tight.You will notice in the picture I had to add a bracket to my aftermarket compressor to make it work right. When driving it the compressor would torque up and the belt would sometime fly off.

[dmjlambert]

I learned the hard way that if you get a Duralast belt from Autozone or other house brand from auto parts stores, they are not adequate. They stretch and don't hold tight enough to the pully. You must get a Gates brand belt. When you get one you will immediately see the difference. Autozone probably has Gates, I know O'Reilly does.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I learned the hard way that if you get a Duralast belt from Autozone or other house brand from auto parts stores, they are not adequate. They stretch and don't hold tight enough to the pully. You must get a Gates brand belt. When you get one you will immediately see the difference. Autozone probably has Gates, I know O'Reilly does.

That is what I am going to do in the morning. I think that is what it happening. I have the belt so tight it has stretched and actually gotten narrower.

[leddzepp]

Does the AC work? (When the belt isn't squealing anyways). How hot was it outside?

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Does the AC work? (When the belt isn't squealing anyways). How hot was it outside?

Yes everything works, all brand new. I do have to take the POA back out and adjust the pressure for r134 but other than that yes..

And it is in the upper 90s

[jeffahart]

I am running a gates 7555 for the A/C and fan. It squealed a bit at first but after running it a bit I cinched it down again after it settled in . No more pig squeals.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

I am running a gates 7555 for the A/C and fan. It squealed a bit at first but after running it a bit I cinched it down again after it settled in . No more pig squeals.

I just ordered my Gates 7555. Will get it tomorrow.. we will see

[dmjlambert]

What is your opinion of belt and hose dressing? I've seen cans and pouches of it at the store and wondered about it. Good? Bad? Waste of time and money or good stuff?

[cleszkie]

If all else fails, you can take some emory cloth to the pulley grooves to give them some "bite", and to remove any old burnished belt material. I do not recommend using any sort of "belt conditioner" or "belt dressing" to increase belt grip on the pulleys. That stuff just makes a mess, and can make the problem worse in some cases.

X2 on the Gates belts.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by cleszkie

If all else fails, you can take some emory cloth to the pulley grooves to give them some "bite", and to remove any old burnished belt material. I do not recommend using any sort of "belt conditioner" or "belt dressing" to increase belt grip on the pulleys. That stuff just makes a mess, and can make the problem worse in some cases.

X2 on the Gates belts.

TGF Amazon! ORielly's wanted almost 30 dollars for the Gates 7555. Found it on Amazon for 15 with free shipping..

The pulley should be clean, it is a brand new compressor, but once I get the new belt I will check to see if the old belts I had on it left any skid marks