Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Jimmy101 on Sun August 17, 2014 8:33 PM

Year: 2007
Make: honda
Model: fit
Engine Size: 1.5
Refrigerant Type: r134
Country of Origin: Japan

(Sanden tre07-3407)
I get a loud belt squeal when I turn on my a/c. and at idle it keeps squealing. at high rpms it goes away. I have changed by belt several times and its tight! My a/c works great, ice cold.
I'm thinking the a/c compressor is placing an abnormally heavy load. Its been like this for the past 2+ years. Belt conditioner
solves the problem temporarily.
I haven't taken any pressure readings yet, as my gauges are in storage.
I don't hear any metal grinding when the a/c is on. bearings seem fine, they spin well with no play.
Does this sound like the compressor is seizing up very slowly?

Jimmy101 on Mon August 18, 2014 7:59 PM

I got my new ac gauges out of storage. they have been there for the past 4 years. its 80F out and I'm getting 0 on the low side and 150 on the high. I guess I have no r134?
Must be magic, because I have ice cold a/c. Is that possible? I'm gonna fine another pressure gauge and double check.

wptski on Mon August 18, 2014 8:31 PM

Just use the high side red hose on the low side to check the if it's the gauge. Do you happen to have manual valve core depressors on the gauge hoses? If so, it could be backed off and not opening the valve core.

Cussboy on Mon August 18, 2014 11:45 PM

Try a different brand of belt. My two Nissan Frontiers do this sometimes when switched on (1998 and 2004). If it blows cold I wouldn't mess with reading pressures.

Edited: Mon August 18, 2014 at 11:46 PM by Cussboy

HECAT on Tue August 19, 2014 7:19 AM

I have had good luck solving "constant belt squealers" with the Goodyear Gatorback belt. You will have to clean all that dressing off the pulleys, and make sure there is no alignment issue.

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Jimmy101 on Tue August 19, 2014 1:42 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. This morning with the engine cold I put the a/c on max and recirculate and got 27psi and 150psi. the temp outside is 77F.
I have tried several goodyear gatorback, gates, dayco, bando belts. Dayco being the one that bites the most. And the gatorback the worse. Seems
like the a/c load is to heavy, causing my belt to slip. I have cleaned all the belt dressing off and placed a new gatorback belt right now. I did inspect
the compressor clutch, the bearings seem good, no metal noise, no free play, pulley and clutch plate rotates smoothly.

wptski on Tue August 19, 2014 3:02 PM

The one unknown point is that you can't tell how the bearing feels or turns under the belt load. I have seen bearings that actually feel good 99.99999% of the time that have a catch in them that one time which was the problem.

Jimmy101 on Tue August 19, 2014 3:16 PM

Is there anything I can do before splurging on a new compressor?
Any other testing or inspectioning??

HECAT on Tue August 19, 2014 4:39 PM

At only 150 on the high side, I would not be convinced it is the compressor.

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wptski on Tue August 19, 2014 4:39 PM

Whoops!! Just reread your post. When the compressor clutch is engaged the pulley bearing isn't used or rotating.

Jimmy101 on Tue August 19, 2014 5:17 PM

could I be under charged?
what if I removed the belt. turn the ignition to on. turn on the a/c to engage the clutch, and then feel how the compressor pulley turns. Although I have no idea how heavy it should feel. I have 2 experienced shadetree mechanics helping me, and both insist that the belt is not loose. The sound the belt makes indicates its a belt tension problem. But we all feel that ain't it. The idler pulley is new, as I wore out the previous 2 idler pulley from over tightening it each time my belt would slip from turning on the a/c. We check the crank, waterpump and alternater pullies for play, the bearings feel tight, no play.

wptski on Tue August 19, 2014 6:42 PM

They do sell a wrench for rotating them.

Jimmy101 on Thu August 21, 2014 11:44 AM

I wondering, would switching to HC like redtek or envirosafe, decrease the load on my pulley.

Cussboy on Thu August 21, 2014 1:37 PM

Jimmy101 on Thu August 21, 2014 2:23 PM

Ok, I'll stay away from HC. I've had this chronic belt problem for over 2 years now. No mechanic has been able to figure it out.

Dougflas on Thu August 21, 2014 3:34 PM

You could try to shim the pulley just to see if anything changes. You will be riding on a slightly different side surface as a test.

mk378 on Thu August 21, 2014 4:41 PM

Confirm which pulley is squeaking. Most likely it is the compressor itself, but you want to be sure. The alternator also draws a heavier load with the compressor on to power the clutch and fans. A simple way to localize engine noises is to take a 3 foot or so piece of hose and hold one end to your ear and the other near the suspected noisy part. Be extremely careful of moving parts of course. And watch out for your wiseguy helper who will sneak into the driver's seat and blow the horn.

Alignment is important. You could try loosening the compressor bolts and move the compressor a little forward and backward (along the compressor axis, which would be side to side relative to the whole car).

Edited: Thu August 21, 2014 at 4:44 PM by mk378

Jimmy101 on Fri August 22, 2014 1:50 PM

Thanks for the tips!