Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

TnTahoe on Thu May 17, 2012 10:36 PM

Year: 2003
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Tahoe
Engine Size: 5.3
Refrigerant Type: 134a
Ambient Temp: 87

Ok first off last year I replaced just about every component in my ac system because I assumed my compressor was gone, but anyway on to my current problem. I have tried and tried to fix my ac system but I cant seem to get rid of this noise and now it doesnt even blow cold anymore. I was only able to use a gauge that came with the refrigerant to maybe give you all an idea of what my truck is doing. Below you will find some media hopefully someone can help me out. All help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Ok here is a reading with my truck off:


Here is a vid showing when the a/c is on and what happens as you raise the rpms:
http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz327/TnTahoe/?action=view¤t=VIDEO0006.mp4

And here is the culprit to the horrible noise that drives me crazy:
http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz327/TnTahoe/?action=view¤t=VIDEO0007.mp4

Edited: Thu May 17, 2012 at 10:42 PM by TnTahoe

GM Tech on Fri May 18, 2012 6:07 AM

The videos did not work for me--why don't you just embed them?

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The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

TnTahoe on Fri May 18, 2012 8:57 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: GM Tech
The videos did not work for me--why don't you just embed them?

I have tried everything that I know to embed the videos or even just make the links clickable but nothing seems to work, but if you copy and paste the link it takes you to the video.

TRB on Fri May 18, 2012 9:18 AM

Sounds like the compressor is toast.

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When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

TRB on Fri May 18, 2012 2:28 PM

-------------------------
When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

Edited: Fri May 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM by TRB

TnTahoe on Fri May 18, 2012 5:43 PM

Can anyone explain why the tensioner moves like that, I cant understand what would make it do that being that the belt only runs the compressor.

GM Tech on Fri May 18, 2012 8:50 PM

Good videos- looks just like the one I posted 3 years ago in this link

Dancing tensioner- what to do?

You must not have searched for your issue first...good luck - most people spend about $1000 replacing compressor, belt and tensioner...

-------------------------
The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

TnTahoe on Fri May 18, 2012 9:05 PM

Quote
Originally posted by: GM Tech
Good videos- looks just like the one I posted 3 years ago in this link



Dancing tensioner- what to do?



You must not have searched for your issue first...good luck - most people spend about $1000 replacing compressor, belt and tensioner...

I actually did search for that post but I wasn't sure what forum I had seen it on, so I decided to post the video. Also I have replaced about every component of my a/c system with no luck. I first found this forum because of the rattling sound, so I decided to replace my compressor. So I replaced my compressor, dryer, orifice tube, evaporator, a/c tensioner, and belt. And all was good for about one day, then the rattle returned, and about a month after the tensioner broke, so i replaced the tensioner and now the a/c doesn't even get cold anymore but the refrigerant is still in the system. The line that goes into the dryer gets cold but still no cold air, and from the video the rattle is still there. And I just reread the link you posted and there still is no viable solution for this problem.

GM Tech on Fri May 18, 2012 10:37 PM

If I owned the truck- I'd search for a short enough belt that did not need a tensioner and "roll it on" Yeah I agree, it is a really bad design- and no one has offered a good fix..

-------------------------
The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

Dougflas on Sat May 19, 2012 6:22 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: GM Tech
If I owned the truck- I'd search for a short enough belt that did not need a tensioner and "roll it on" Yeah I agree, it is a really bad design- and no one has offered a good fix..

Was this the Chevy that the problem was linked to the location of the compressor allowing liquid refrigerant to migrate to the compressor and the fix was to reroute the suction hose?

TnTahoe on Sat May 19, 2012 11:05 AM

Quote
Originally posted by: Dougflas
Quote
Originally posted by: GM Tech
If I owned the truck- I'd search for a short enough belt that did not need a tensioner and "roll it on" Yeah I agree, it is a really bad design- and no one has offered a good fix..



Was this the Chevy that the problem was linked to the location of the compressor allowing liquid refrigerant to migrate to the compressor and the fix was to reroute the suction hose?

This may be the case, do you have any more info about rerouting the suction hose?

James89dx on Sat May 19, 2012 10:03 PM

Your tensioner is obviously FUBAR. Why in the world haven't you replaced it?

It seems to me to be quite clear that the majority of that noise is the tensioner bouncing on the belt. I don't even know how you can tell the compressor is making noise (if it is) with all the racket between the tensioner and the belt.

With the tensioner bouncing around like that, the belt is surely slipping at the compressor. There still could be a problem with the compressor but it seems quite obvious you need to replace that tensioner before doing anything else..

*edit* I see you said you did replace it and it lasted a day. Are you using some cheap aftermarket unit? Or is the GM tensioner really that weak?

*double edit* OR I wonder if your compressor is intermittently seizing/stiffening for lack of a better term which then overloads the tensioner causing the bounce?

Edited: Sat May 19, 2012 at 10:13 PM by James89dx

TnTahoe on Sun May 20, 2012 2:22 AM

I have tried tensioners from just about all the local part stores and they all are pretty weak and as stated before they dont hold much tension. The tensioner seen in the video is not very old probably less than a year old and so is the compressor.

TnTahoe on Wed August 01, 2012 12:34 PM

I pushed the valve on the low side port and normally r134 would come out but this time just warm air was coming out. I think my high side port has a leak. I was told that I could let all of the air out of the system and just refill it with r134 and my ac should be back blowing cold, also by fixing the leaky high side port. Would I need to vacuum the system down again before I put r134 in it?