Serpentine belt chirping when AC is on
03-08-2015, 01:11 PM
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Serpentine belt chirping when AC is on
So my AC compressor is emitting a chirp-chirp sound when the AC is on (but is quiet when it's off), and I'm not sure whether it's the belt, the AC clutch, or a bearing. AC compressor and clutch are both under 2 years old (replaced with Motorcraft unit) and serpentine belt is just over a year old, replaced with a Motorcraft belt.
The chirp itself will come and go, when I switch the AC on, it'll be there about 50% of the time. If it does chirp, it will go away about half the time if I cycle the AC off and on. Same with driving, if it starts up I cycle the AC power and it'll go away. It doesn't seem to be effected by engine RPM.
The belt appears to be in good shape, no cracks or delamination. The idler rollers all turn freely, and the tensioner roller turns freely too. The tensioner seems likes it's putting the right amount of pressure on the belt, the belt deflects a little an 1/8 of an inch when pressed hard. I did the soap test on the belt and it didn't change when the sound happens.
The AC blows cold air constantly when on, which from my understanding, if it was the clutch itself it would be cycle between cold and ambient temp air. The clutch flywheel itself is hard to turn when the belt is not tensioned. the wheel does turn when the belt is moving.
I'm stuck with diagnosing the cause of the noise. I'm not sure which parts to throw at it first. Any ideas?
The chirp itself will come and go, when I switch the AC on, it'll be there about 50% of the time. If it does chirp, it will go away about half the time if I cycle the AC off and on. Same with driving, if it starts up I cycle the AC power and it'll go away. It doesn't seem to be effected by engine RPM.
The belt appears to be in good shape, no cracks or delamination. The idler rollers all turn freely, and the tensioner roller turns freely too. The tensioner seems likes it's putting the right amount of pressure on the belt, the belt deflects a little an 1/8 of an inch when pressed hard. I did the soap test on the belt and it didn't change when the sound happens.
The AC blows cold air constantly when on, which from my understanding, if it was the clutch itself it would be cycle between cold and ambient temp air. The clutch flywheel itself is hard to turn when the belt is not tensioned. the wheel does turn when the belt is moving.
I'm stuck with diagnosing the cause of the noise. I'm not sure which parts to throw at it first. Any ideas?
