MikeDirntRulez

Hello,

I just recently got my A/C recharged with 1 lb. of Freon. It worked absolutely gorgeous and I have been using it for the past week with no noise or anything, it was like having a brand new car....... until.........

Today when I was coming out of the gym and I started up my car. I noticed it was making this whining noise and I didn't think anything of it until on the way home it started getting louder. I had the A/C on until I heard the whining and then I shut it off and the radio so I could hear it better. It got loud enough so I could hear it even when the engine was accelerating, rather than just at idle.

I finally got home and had my g/f rev the motor to about 1500 RPMs and I listened to see where the noise was coming from. I stuck my ear down but it was dark so I couldn't see, but it seemed to be coming from the area where the compressor is at. it was too dark to see what is around that area that is hooked up to the serpentine belt, I think the Smog pump is below it, can't remember.

The noise speeds up with the speed of the engine so it definitely is belt-related. I searched for whining compressor and came up with some threads about how the compressor may not have enough oil, but haven't gotten around to checking the oil in it because I DONT KNOW HOW.

Does anybody know what could be wrong? I just paid out the *** for just 1 lb. of R-12 and don't want it to all go to waste by finding out I need a new compressor now, what else could be wrong? Is it normal? because the sound wasn't there before.

ploegi

Have a look when it is light out.

Turn on the A/C, and see when you hear the noise. If it is the compressor, or clutch, the noise should cycle with the compressor. If the noise is constant, and does not vary with the compressor cycling, chances are, it is not the compressor. IF you have a stethoscope, now would be the time to get it out, and start poking around. IF you don't, a length of wood works pretty well also.

MikeDirntRulez

Well..... I'm still a little confused .

Today I went out and started it up. I let it idle and the sound was still there, so I turned the A/C on and it got noticably louder. That's when I got and decided "well, you just wasted all that money, time to repair something else now!".

So that's when I decided to just take it out for a spin. I drove around with the A/C on and it made the noise, however when I turned the A/C off it still made the noise just as loud .

Then I take it back home, park it, and after it warms up, the idle is at about 500-550 RPM, and the noise was extremely faint. I could not hear it inside the car until I revved the engine to about 1500, and there it was again, even with the A/C off!!!

What does this mean now? Is there anything I can do to fix/prevent it from getting worse? I'm desperate, I'm almost willing to drive it until the damn thing seizes up on me, then i'll know for sure if it's broken .

MikeDirntRulez

*bump*

bru333

^I'd do as suggested...
Since it still makes noise when the a/c is off, from the description of the noise, I'd suspect the power steering pump.

MikeDirntRulez

I don't mean to sound dumb, but isn't the PS pump on the driver's side?

It's definitely coming from the compressor or whatever is under that, which i THINk is the smog pump.

But yes, I did as he suggested and the noise is there even with the A/C off, it just gets louder when the A/C is on, could it not be the A/C and whatever it is gets louder because the engine is under more load?

Do smog pumps whine when they are about to go?

bru333

yup, may still sound like the sound is coming from the pass. side though

yeah..that makes sense doesn't it...more load on engine/belt=more noise...
Don't know...

It is very hard to diagnose sounds over the internet...prolly why you aren't getting more respones...

MikeDirntRulez

Looks like I need to go out in a little bit and do that wood trick. You're right, it is hard to diagnose sounds over the internet, i've tried my hardest to explain, but ultimately only I can figure out what the heck it is, so I'll get that done and check in later.

ploegi

Probably the smog pump. By what you describe, I suspect that the pump is preparing to seize.....

If you have a few bucks to burn, take off the pulley from the smog pump, and install a shorter belt. (you can search on here, and find the correct length) See if the noise goes away.

MikeDirntRulez

I have an idea.

What if I took off the belt, and tried spinning each one of the pullies by hand? Do you think that would work or they would only squeak when under load?

And thank you all for your help so far, it is greatly appreciated.

Benm109

It is definitely worth a try. Most of time that will work (I do it all the time), especially because sometimes the engine is just too loud when it's running to single out a noise.

MikeDirntRulez

Found out it was the smog pump.

Thanks alot for your help guys!