English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

The alternator went bad on our 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. My husband replaced it, but then the compressor started squealing. The AC has not been working for a while. It would make a rattling noise when on. Since the weather has been mild and we haven't been using it, we never thought about it when we had time to fiddle with it. My husband said he found some parts that fell off in the wheel guard. He said the bearings are rusted and the van squeals extremely loud whenever it is on, even if the AC is off. We had a new compressor put in about 1 1/2 yrs ago. I don't want to (nor can I afford to) have another new one put in. Is there a chance that we just need a new clutch or bearings or something else cheaper?

2006-12-14 12:46:12 · 8 answers · asked by ebethohlhaut 2 in Cars & Transportation Maintenance & Repairs

8 answers

Definitely sounds like the clutch since it does it all the time. I'd highly recommend doing something about it SOON as it could possibly lock up and break your belt. If you only have one belt (most vehicles do anymore) you could find yourself with no alternator output, power steering and maybe no coolant circulation. On some vehicles the water pump is driven by the timing belt, but on many it's driven by the same belt that drives the a/c, alt, p/s, etc.

As others have noted, sometimes just the clutch costs close to a reman compressor WITH clutch, and the labor is usually more involved.

A salvage yard compressor with clutch may be the chaepest way to go.

2006-12-14 14:04:13 · answer #1 · answered by Squiggy 7 · 0 0

You may be able to take the belts, there are probably two, off the a/c. Check and see, if it only drives the a/c you can cut it and get it off, before it does more damage.The belts on my Dodge truck is that way. You can't do any of the repairs on the a/c as replacing the clutch requires removing the compressor which means disconnecting the a/c hoses which means the refrigerant must be removed. You would need a book on the subject if you try it yourself. I bought a new a/c comp. from Ebay for $50

2006-12-14 14:54:22 · answer #2 · answered by tronary 7 · 0 0

Go to a junkyard and just buy another compressor or another clutch and replace your clutch. That sounds like the problem if it is sqealing all of the time. When you get the clutch on, you want to turn the compressor over by hand just to be sure it's not locked up. Good luck.

2006-12-14 12:51:51 · answer #3 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0 0

Sounds like just the clutch on the compressor, but they are NOT cheap either. I wouldn't think the freon compressor would wear out in just a year and a half. I am a little surprised that you had to replace it at all.

2006-12-14 12:52:02 · answer #4 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0 0

sounds like to me that since it rattles even when your not running the ac it very well could be the ac clutch which can be raplaced seperately which has the bearings in it.with a good repair manual your husband can handle this job as well and save you a little money.but he have to do the repair without taking the ac lines lose because he want have the stuff to drain and recharge the freon but he should be able to do it!!goodluck

2006-12-14 13:00:19 · answer #5 · answered by richard m 1 · 0 0

Did you put the refrigerant in and that's why you are saying it's good, because not only do you have a low pressure switch, you also have a high pressure switch, and if it's overfilled, it's tripping the switch. Take it to a certified AC technician before you mess something up.

2016-05-24 06:48:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Get one from a junkyard ( whole unit ) and put it on but don't use it untill you are ready to get the system repaired. Who knows the unit from the junkyard may be good when you go to have it fixed.

2006-12-14 12:50:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

i would say its low on free-on or a bad clutch.

2006-12-14 12:50:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

fedest.com, questions and answers