A/C compressor whistles after shutoff = Bad or Normal?

[jimslaid]

After I shut off my air conditioner, or the van after it has been running with the A/C on it whistles for 20 seconds. Is this normal?

Also, I was driving at highway speeds for about an hour, I had the AC on and I could smell burning plastic. I don't hear the belt squealing. Would that be a sign of a failing compressor clutch bearing?

Thanks for the replies.

[brcidd]

That whistling noise is there all the time the a/c is on-- you just can't hear it with the engine running- it is the refrigerant being metered through the expansion device- which is what makes it cool the van. Perfectly normal.

Burnt plastic smell is not normal- you'll need to investigate that one.

[lesterl]

The hissing noise? was probably the pressure equalizing in the system, normal. The burning plastic smell could be the blower motor... but who knows.

[jimslaid]

I found 2 things a grocery bag burned to the cat and one of the power steering hoses had come out of its clip and was rubbing in the drive belt.