Chev Cavalier AC Compressor Bearing

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Bluestream

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My daughters Cavalier is making some noise. The noise pretty much goes away when the AC compressor activates. The noise can best be describes as the same as an alternator, or an idler wheel with bad bearings. The noise can be intermittent at times, but my guess is the Compressor bearing has gone bad. Vehicle only has 113,000 KM

Can this be diagnosed by taking the belt off and spinning the AC pulley?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Chris142
yes. if the bearing is bad you can replace just the bearing.but you will need special pullers and such


I am am aware that the bearing can be replaced, I am trying to trouble shoot is that is indeed the problem.

Does the bearing spin all the time, or only when the clutch is engaged?
 
Spins all the time. Often the belt can be removed and you can hear the bearing growl when spinning the pulley.
 
I removed the belt, and spun the AC pulley, and its loud. Cant figure out why its quite when the compressor runs...???
 
I wouldn't say the clutch in making noise per say, as it engages and disengages fine. There is a "worn Bearing type noise when the AC compressor is not turning. Very quite when AC engaged.
 
When the A/C clutch is energized the pulley and hub are effectively locked together: no noise.
 
Originally Posted By: yonyon
When the A/C clutch is energized the pulley and hub are effectively locked together: no noise.


Does that mean the noise is more likely from the clutch and not the bearing?
 
It's possible. That's why I suggested it.

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: yonyon
When the A/C clutch is energized the pulley and hub are effectively locked together: no noise.


Does that mean the noise is more likely from the clutch and not the bearing?
 
Usually when clutches go bad, they stop retracting fully causing them to "jingle"- a giveaway is increased rust in the area of the AC compressor and/or metal filings below. Bad bearings howl/growl more. Inspect the clutch and see if there is a visible air gap. It's typically .015" to .020"...

To me at least, the difference in sound between a bad bearing and a bad (read improperly retracting clutch) are quite apparent.
 
Remove the belt. Turn the hub over by hand. Ignoring and change in resistance to turning, does it feel smooth? Next feel the pulley. Does it stay properly centered and turn smoothly without any feeling of roughness? Put the belt back on. With the A/C switched off, start the engine. Look at and listen to the area of the compressor. Are there sparks shooting out? Does it sound more like a rumble, growl, or tiny bells? Switch the A/C on. Verify that the noise is actually gone and not just diminished in volume or changed in quality.

Report back here with the answers to these and more exciting questions. I am confident that you'll already have figured out what you want to know.
 
This is what happens when a A/C clutch bearing fails. At one time, you could buy a replacement clutch, but nowadays, a replacement compressor is the only option. Thankfully, once you have the refrigerant recovered by a repair shop, A/C component replacement is no more difficult than other automotive repairs. If you have to replace the compressor, you will need to flush out all the lines, condenser, and evaporator, and install a new drier and orifice tube or expansion valve. You will need a repair shop vacuum the A/C system, then charge it with refrigerant.

It is unfortunate that you only got 110,000 KM which is close to 65,000 miles. However, you got more than 10 years out of your A/C compressor which is actually quite good. My mother has had cars that never even came close to that life from a compressor.
 
Thanks for all the reply guys. The car is now gone with the daughter gone back to Toronto. All I can say is the compressor did make noise when turned over with the belt off. That noise was definitely not normal. I wish I had more time to trouble shoot, but I had time constraints. I did see some small metal filings around the outer clutch area, but I assumed that was normal. None below the compressor, all were on the clutch and not that many

I get it back in 4 weeks and look again. Assuming it hangs together for her that long...

I appreciative all the reply's.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: artificialist
This is what happens when a A/C clutch bearing fails. At one time, you could buy a replacement clutch, but nowadays, a replacement compressor is the only option.


Why do you say that? This is a Delpi V5 Compressor from I have have determined, and the bearing is replaceable without draining the system.
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: artificialist
This is what happens when a A/C clutch bearing fails. At one time, you could buy a replacement clutch, but nowadays, a replacement compressor is the only option.


Why do you say that? This is a Delpi V5 Compressor from I have have determined, and the bearing is replaceable without draining the system.

Well then, the OP is lucky.

I rarely ever see clutch and pulley replacement kits, so I stopped searching.
 
That's a bad clutch at 1:25 in your youtube vid for sure. Not to say that the fellow didn't have other issues though.

Either way, bad bearing or bad clutch, the replacement clutch comes with a new bearing.
 
The thing in that video that really gets my attention is the line where he asks something along the lines of "Who has a 25mm box wrench?" I think a better question would be "who has that puller kit but doesn't have a 1" wrench?"
 
artificialist said:
This is what happens when a A/C clutch bearing fails. At one time, you could buy a replacement clutch, but nowadays, a replacement compressor is the only option. /quote]

You can still buy compressor clutch assemblies. It's just that they seem to cost almost as much as a new compressor with a new clutch. A used clutch or clutch with compressor from a junkyard or eBay would be good as well. Or you can replace the bearings (you will work hard to find the bearings, but it can be done, I saw it on YouTube).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsacpKR_sA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn9N5sypuME
Click to expand...
 
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