Bad noise. A/C compressor or Tensioner Pulley

[DenverDadofTwins]

It’s not too bad of a job, costs about $200 for the kit without a condenser, $240 with it. It’s recommended to change the condenser as it traps metal particals from the compressor failure. Change the orifice, accumulator, and flush out all lines to remove contaminated. Takes about 2 hours to do so not too bad and will save you a ton of money. Only thing is you need a vacuum pump to remove moisture from the system before recharging. I just did mine a few weeks ago.

Yeah it’s only like six bolts once you get everything out of the way. Had a shop suck all the Freon our earlier. Slapping it in there ASAP. Got the new condenser and orifice tube as well

 

[OneofFew]

That absolutely sounds like a bearing noise to me, most likely the tensioner pulley. I would not be inclined to replace the compressor at this stage, I'd be replacing the tensioner and belt. while at it, I'd replace the tensioner and idler pulley on the serpentine belt also.

 

[DenverDadofTwins]

Whelp got the new one in and it’s running like a champ. Air so cold I ripped holes in my shirt with my hard nipples

 

[Tonyrodz]

Whelp got the new one in and it’s running like a champ. Air so cold I ripped holes in my shirt with my hard nipples

That's pretty cold!

 

[03greenZ71]

Good job on the install, saved a lot of money. my compressor sounded like a bearing scraping inside also when it failed. The sure tell sign it’s a bad compressor is if the belt flutters, comes off and shreds. Even if you can baby it and keep it working for awhile it’s on it’s way out.

 

[BCull68]

It is your compressor. Common with GM. You think it’s the tensioner but the compressor is worn inside causing it to not spin correctly and causes the compressor to start “bucking” which makes the belt flutter and eventually get bad enough to jump off and shred. There was a tab from gm on this.

Bad grinding noise only when the A/C is on and the engine revs.

No noise when the A/C is off or it’s just idling with the A/C on.


What do you think? Is it just the tensioner pulley or could it be the A/C compressor going bad? Air blows cold

Definitely tensioner noise..same issue here, I just replaces belt and tensioner tonight, but alas...noise still there when AC on and you snap throttle... if I drive smooth I dont hear it but this is a common compressor problem...even the instructions from Gates mentions catastrophic Compressor issues (called slugging) For $35 it was worth the try.,.

 

[BCull68]

It is your compressor. Common with GM. You think it’s the tensioner but the compressor is worn inside causing it to not spin correctly and causes the compressor to start “bucking” which makes the belt flutter and eventually get bad enough to jump off and shred. There was a tab from gm on this.

Explained to perfection......