A/C clutch

[novanix]

greetings, I have noticed a squeal coming from my A/C clutch. the system was working fine last year but this winter as of today I have noticed a very very tiny audible squeal. I looked under to the hood to find my A/C compressor turning very slowly.. While manually turning it I have no problem but while the car is running (with defroster on) the A/C clutch will spin very slow.
Now I know when the A/C system engages the one cooling fan will turn on. However, the cooling fan on my car doesn't turn on. I also notice no increase in RPM while the clutch is turning. Since it is still winter here in Canada, I'm thinking maybe its just doing some sort of slow cycle to keep the system lubricated.
Why would it be doing this & what could I do to stop the squeal, I was thinking of shooting a little oil near the airgap on the clutch.
there also doesn't seem to be any strain being put on the engine or belt.
car is a 99 3.4L grandam with 300k (all highway)

[3100]

ac clutch will be on if your windshield defroster is on.

[novanix]

but why would it be turning very very slow I've seen work in the summer it spins alot more faster than that & there's barely any resistance when turning it manually with my hand. I'm thinking all the magnets inside aren't fully engaging, or some type of bad connection..

[xeroinfinity]

Thier are several relays for the fans and AC which are all tide together in a sort of curcuit.
If the fan is turning slow with the AC on then the AC line pressure is probly low, because you have the defrost on and its winter.

Hope that helps

[brcidd]

Does it squeal with a/c off? if ambient temp is below about 40 degf then a/c wont activate when requested - by design. Could be V-5 clutch drag noise- are there metal filings about front of arrow head clutch drive?

[novanix]

yeah It squeals with the A/C off I tried to check the front of the head, but its very awkward. I know its a delphi clutch, It did engage one day when the temp was about +5C
so now that you mention. I think it was drag noise.

[brcidd]

Here is my "cut & paste" on drag noise

This sounds like classic v-5 clutch drag- the air gap has tightened and needs to be adjusted back to .020" . I have answered this several times- and usually see about 1 a week during the hot season. The noise is a scrapping/rattle only with a/c off- should see signs of metal shavings about the clutch hub. The fix is to borrow the installer/removal tool from autozone and back off the air gap a tad. This can be done on car, without removing compressor or refrigerant, and can even be done without removing the shaft nut since the nut does not bottom on the clutch drive. Pull back the plastic cover in wheel well to access