a/c problems

[ditchrunner]

My 95 lumina is making a noise i think it is comeing from the ac compressor. it sounds like it is draging or something. has anyone had this before and how can i fix it because it is really annoying. in advance thanks for your help

[jeffcoslacker]

Take the belt off and verify that's the rumble you hear, then you'll have to replace the bearing or the compressor....Does the A/C work?

[ditchrunner]

i think the ac works but it is too cold to really know for sure. when the ac compressor is engaged the noise goes away. any ideas???

[MishaA]

If nothing else is connected to a/c belt, then it is most probably compressor

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by ditchrunner

i think the ac works but it is too cold to really know for sure. when the ac compressor is engaged the noise goes away. any ideas???

Sounds like the compressor clutch is falling apart.

[richtazz]

I agree with Jeff, it sounds like a compressor pulley bearing is going. When you engage the a/c, the comressor coil engages the clutch, and the bearing quiets down (the bearing is only under load when the compressor is off and free-wheeling). If you don't have the money for a new compressor, and you don't use your a/c, you can buy a bypass pulley kit from Dorman for about $30-$40. You cannot re-route the belt to eliminate the compressor without causing the water pump to turn backwards on your year Lumina, so you'll either have to replace the compressor, or put a bypass pulley in it's place.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by richtazz

I agree with Jeff, it sounds like a compressor pulley bearing is going. When you engage the a/c, the comressor coil engages the clutch, and the bearing quiets down (the bearing is only under load when the compressor is off and free-wheeling). If you don't have the money for a new compressor, and you don't use your a/c, you can buy a bypass pulley kit from Dorman for about $30-$40. You cannot re-route the belt to eliminate the compressor without causing the water pump to turn backwards on your year Lumina, so you'll either have to replace the compressor, or put a bypass pulley in it's place.

That's cool that they have a bypass idler available....don't have a P/N do ya'?

[richtazz]

Here's the link to their website that shows the bypass pullies available (as well as many other products you might not think were available aftermarket).

https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-b...MP319681hwrap1

For reference, the part number for 89-96 Lumina's with the 3.1 is 34197. I've installed one on a Buick Century, and the only issue was the mounting bolts. The OEM compressor had threaded holes, where the Dorman part was straight through, so I had to get longer bolts and nuts because the factory bolts weren't long enough to go through the Dorman bracket and get a nut started on. Other than that, it was a troublefree install, and it's woking great.