Hi all. Just got back from Korea and took the ol' T/A out for a spin. I had the a/c on and noticed when I pulled back in my driveway there's some type of squeal coming from something on the front of the engine. I'm not saying that it's a/c-related, just trying to give as much info as I can. I know that isn't too specific but unfortunately it's as specific as I can get. I can't really tell where it's coming from?! It doesn't do it all the time, just some times. I did a search and saw a couple of threads about the idler pulley (above the alternator) but I'm still not sure. Can anyone contribute on this one? As always, appreciate it guys.

 

Could be a worn belt or pulley. The tensioner squeaks when it's ready to go. Also, reroute your belt around the AC pulley, and see if that remedies the problem. If you haven't used your A/c in a while it's possible it's shot. Takes about 10 minutes to reroute the belts, and actually, the diagram is right there on the bracket beside the warning labels, etc.

 

When you say "reroute" do you just mean take the belts off and put them back on? Because they seem fine.

 

all you have to do is untension the tensioner, and wrap the pulley in the alternate position. It will bypass the AC and if it still squeaks, you can eliminate the AC as the source of the problem. It's real easy.

 

Well after further investigation, I found that the noise only happens after I turn the a/c off. When the compressor is engaged (a/c on) there's no noise whatsoever. Seeing as how the a/c belt runs only around the crankshaft and another tension pulley, I'm guessing it's either the compressor (how, I don't know) or the pulley. Birchman, you'll have to excuse my ignorance but I'm not quite seeing what you're talking about. I've been away from the car for a year but mom turned it over at least once a week with the a/c on. Who knows.

Guess I'll try the stethoscope-method.

 

I figured I would start cheap: it had to be the a/c compressor, the belt, or the belt tensioner. I got lucky, it was the belt. $8 fix! Thanks for the guidance.