Well last fall I rebuilt my engine, and I never put a new a/c belt on as it wasn't needed, during the winter my a/c idler setup fell apart, and so yesterday I replaced with a whole new idler assy from the dealership, new belt, and ac blows cold, occasionally the belt will squeak for a second, and the car will lug like the belts getting stuck or something, at idle the compressor clutch will occasionally stop and go again and I was wondering if this was normal, or if maybe the compressor is somehow getting stuck? I can't get my pulley any higher as the bolt is actually starting to push towards the timing belt cover, its actually almost impossible to get a socket on the bolt now, unless it push the tbelt cover back towards the block for clearance. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

bump

 

Nice avatar.

When the A/C is running and the compressor clutch is engaged, does the condenser fan run?

 

Hahaha, same to you! I've had mine since about 2005 :/

And yes sir it does. A/C also blows cold (except at low idle when the compressor clutch is doing its little "stop-go" bs. If i'm driving I seem to have no issues, other than a quick chirp/squeak when I shift gears.

 

Did you recently recharge the system with refrigerant?

Is the condenser clogged with bugs/road debris? Does spraying the condenser with water while idling with the A/C on eliminate the problem?

 

System hasn't been charged since i've owned it, didn't think it was necessary as this thing blows colder than any car i've ever owned before, lol. (purchased late Sept 2010)

Do you think it needs to be charged?

I haven't tried spraying it with water, is this something I would do like, with a spray bottle? Or just maybe dumping a bottle of water on it?

The condensor is clean in the front, I live in the desert so theres not too much of that here, lol.

 

No. I was wondering whether the system might be overcharged. It doesn't seem so.

Your problem is consistent the condenser no being able to cool the hot high pressure refrigerant from the compressor. If so, spraying water from a garden hose on the condenser with engine idling would eliminate the problem.

I've encountered many bug swarms in deserts. You should carefully inspect the condenser for clogging or damage.

 

Roger.
Let me try to understand this properly, are you telling me that if the condenser cannot keep up with the refrigerant, it would cause a strain on the system, which is causing the belt to squeal, and the a/c to blow warm? Which is why it only does it at idle/low rpm?
Will do tomorrow!


Finally, one thing I should point out, maybe it will change something, when the car starts to blow 'warmer" air at idle, if I rev the car up (to about 1500rpm) the car starts to blow cold again.

 

The condenser cools hot high pressure coolant from the compressor. If the condenser can't do its job efficiently, the refrigerant pressures rise in the system, making the compressor labor more to compress the refrigerant. The belt is squeaking because the high pressure refrigerant makes it very difficult to turn the compressor pulley. Usually, a problem like yours is due to the condenser fan not running. The condenser fan is generally only needed to cool the condenser when the car is stopped and the engine is idling. I would also assume that this excess load on the engine makes the idle speed drop below spec, which would also prevent cooling. When you rev your engine, you may be compensating for the increased engine load and allowing the A/C to cool again.

 

Awesome. So you suggest:

1st: Check/clean condenser

2nd: Spray condenser with water to attempt to cool it.

If spraying it helps, the squealing should stop, and the ac should blow cold, no?

If this the case, am I in need of a new condenser?

 

Correct. And also verify that the condenser fan runs. Note that there are two fans, the radiator fan and condenser fan. Make sure the latter runs when the A/C compressor clutch is engaged with the A/C on.

Most likely. Or the condenser fan is not working. Post your results.

 

I'm 100% positive that the condenser fan works (i'm not as mechanically illiterate as this post may make me out to be, lol, I just don't know **** about ac.)

I was actually missing the two lower bolts on the condenser fan shroud that was making the fan/shroud/condenser vibrate like crazy whenever the fan engaged. So while waiting for the belt to start squealing (while I was trying to figure out WHY it was squealing) I installed new bolts on the shroud. So I know for a fact that the condenser fan (AND the radiator fan, both spin lol) are working

 

Look for anything that would impede the free flow of air through the condenser.

Is the condenser fan motor possibly reversed? It should pull air from in front of the car through the condenser not push hot air from the engine through the condenser.

 

Hmm, I didn't think to check for that. I will definitely look.

 

Okay did a quick check, fan spins [check], fan is sucking THROUGH condenser towards engine [check], condenser appeared to have ONE fly in it, a small hole (about 75% diameter of a dime) and it appears to have a good amount of over-spray on it. I also made a video, just for you RonJ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHwdqiAqVq4

 

That's a good sized hole in the condenser. Road shoot out?

Based on your other thread, the problem may be your low idle speed. Solving that may solve the A/C problem.

 

LMAO! Well, I do live on the border of Juarez, Mexico, so maybe the prior owner was involved in something across the border, who knows.

Thanks RonJ

 

El Paso, right? You'll need that A/C working very soon.

 

Yes sir! Shoot, I already need it!! I'm from Wisconsin originally, Army brought me to this death hole ><

I didn't notice you were from TX as well, most people don't know where El Paso is, lol!

 

If you haven't heard of Juarez, Mexico, you're probably dead. Now El Paso, that's a different story.

 

LOL! Hence why I tell people i'm a stone's throw from Juarez, rather than in El Paso