1994 camry a/c compressor

[bandana]

How can you tell if is the clutch or the compressor is bad ,it has a small grinding noise without the clutch engaged but had cold air with it engaged but now if i push the a/c button on it blows a fuse.
thanks for any help

[Cammy_01]

That sounds like bearings to me.. can you take the belt off and try to see if the compessor turns by hand and does it feel smooth and precise or noisy rocky or gritty feeling when you spin it? You have not done a R134 conversion from R12 have you?

Is it an R12 or R134 factory system?

[bandana]

it has the r134 in it from the factory

[bandana]

is it possible to take the clutch off without removing the compressor?

[Cammy_01]

R134, that is good.. I was hoping it was not a botched retrofit causing the compressor to not get oiled correctly, this happens with most R134 conversions lol.

It really depends on the brand of AC compressor you have. Some can and some cant.. I dont know which models can or cant. My first step would be to remove the belt and try spinning the compressor - with the engine off of course and the clutch not energized.. it should spin fairly freely and feel precision, if it is really gritty or rough then its definately compressor bearings. I suspect that you have bearing problems anyway, not the clutch. Just feel around the clutch with the engine off lol, does it feel loose at all or does everything feel solid? Sometimes the clutches wear out and get really loose and make noise, but mostly either a clutch works or it does not work.. yours seems to work, it engages the compressor and the compressor bearings are gone and there is so much drag on the pulley it blows the fuse and disengages the clutch again. That is about the best guess I can give without actually seeing it. Here is an excellent AC message board:

http://www.aircondition.com/wwwboard/index.htm

[bandana]

Ok I will try that, thanks

[Cammy_01]

I just looked and someone posted the same noise issue on a GM vehicle.. they mentioned adjusting the gap on the clutch, I think some compressors you can and some you cant.. I would try posting and see what they say, good luck!

[scotty38356]

i have a 1998 Camry LE. about a month ago i had to replace the alternator and the battery in the car.(the battery was dead, and the alternator wouldn't charge it anymore.) i put them back in the car, adjusted the best, and now i have a god forsaken noise from around the area of my alternator or compressor. it sounds like a fan running and someone is sticking a pencil in it. help please. this noise is getting on my nerves.

[boytiti]

Originally Posted by bandana

How can you tell if is the clutch or the compressor is bad ,it has a small grinding noise without the clutch engaged but had cold air with it engaged but now if i push the a/c button on it blows a fuse.
thanks for any help

ABOUT A/C COMPRESSOR:

A squealing noise may be cause by a loose, dry, or worn A/C compressor drive belt.

A rattling noise from the compressor may be cause by a loose or worn cluth hub, or loose compressor mounting bolts.

A thumping, banging noise from the compressor may be cause by liquid refrigerant entering the compressor, refrigerant system blockage, or incorrect system pressures. Internal compressor damage may cause heavy knocking noises from the compressor. A growling noise with the compressor clutch engaged or disengaged may be caused by a worn compressor pulley bearing. If the the growling noise is evident only when the cluth is engaged, the compressor internal bearing may be worn.

If the fuse in a compressor clutch circuit blows repeatedly, the cause of this problem could be a shorted winding in the clutch coil.

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