AC Compressor SCREEEEEMING!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:53 am

Guys,
This morning I was leaving for work. I fired up JEEPZILLA and all I heard after it fired up was a SCREAM. I opened the hood while running and my ears and eyes pointed me into the direction of the AC Compressor. It sounded like metal on metal spinning. I turned off the AC from inside the rig and in a few seconds, the noise was noticeable quieter. When I turned it back on, it SCREAMED again.
I noticed that the I GUESS clutch for it was not going on and off and it was not making that click on and click off sound. Nor was the face plate turning.

It was still.
My question, (I know something is wrong) Is it the whole compressor, or just the clutch assy?
If it is just the clutch, does the whole thing need to be replaced?
How hard is it to replace the clutch on the AC compressor?

How much is the part?

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:48 pm

Turn the AC on... Watch the face of the AC compressor.

If the sound is generated with the flywheel moving than the clutch is very suspect.

If the noise is noticed without the clutch flywheel moving than you might have a larger issue internal to the compressor.

My guess is the AC clutch exploded.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:23 pm

Like I said before, When the AC is turned on, the face does not move and it screams.
When the AC is off the noise stops.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:47 pm

Sorry about that... I miss read the op.

I still belive it is your clutch. I had a similar noise on an 2000 Dodge Intrepid or ours.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:51 pm

I thought it might be the clutch because when it should click, then the face would sping then it should stop. Non of that is going on.

How hard was it to replace the clutch?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:00 pm

Jeep Dawg wrote:

I thought it might be the clutch because when it should click, then the face would sping then it should stop. Non of that is going on.

How hard was it to replace the clutch?

The clutch needs some special tools and is a royal pain,there are gaps that need to be set correctly.

Also you should never turn of your vehicle with the A/C still on,always turn off the A/C before you shut off your vehicle so the A/C clutch is not engaged when you start your vehicle,very bad on the clutch.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:01 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Jeep Dawg wrote:

I thought it might be the clutch because when it should click, then the face would sping then it should stop. Non of that is going on.

How hard was it to replace the clutch?

The clutch needs some special tools and is a royal pain,there are gaps that need to be set correctly.

Also you should never turn of your vehicle with the A/C still on,always turn off the A/C before you shut off your vehicle so the A/C clutch is not engaged when you start your vehicle,very bad on the clutch.

REALLY?
MAN nothing but problems with my KJ lately.
I pretty much shut the jeep off with the ac on. I never thought it would damage the clutch.

So what kind of special tool do I need to do this job?

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:16 pm

On all of my previous vehicles I've never had to turn off the AC before turning off the car.

On the Liberty I got into the habbit of turning off everything... Gotta take care of the legendary Chrysler durability you know.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:14 pm

it seems like NO ONE has the compressor clutch. They all only have the whole compressor. I think it might be a dealer part.

IS IT?

the luck I have been having latele, I am sure it is a dealer part and probally cost as much as the whole compressor.

I swear, JEEPZILLA is so close to being left on the train tracks.

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:09 pm

Jeep Dawg wrote:

it seems like NO ONE has the compressor clutch. They all only have the whole compressor. I think it might be a dealer part.

IS IT?

the luck I have been having latele, I am sure it is a dealer part and probally cost as much as the whole compressor.

I swear, JEEPZILLA is so close to being left on the train tracks.

a couple things before you roll her onto the tracks :shock:

- with the engine off, try turning the center of the clutch by hand. if you can't turn it, your compressor is shot, not the clutch.

- leaving the a/c on will have no ill effect on your vehicle when you shut it off or starting it up. on all newer vehicles, the clutch it controlled by the computer and it will not engage the clutch while trying to start (does your fan or radio turn on while trying to crank?). on older vehicles when this may have been the case, but even then it was very unlikely. most vehicles have 2 ignition circuits, one that is energized while cranking and in the run position and a second ignition circuit that is only on in the run position. the only things on the first ignition circuit are those functions needed to start/run the engine.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:17 am

Yea I can spin the pulley when the engin is off. Some times the jeep wont start. I get a symptom like it has a weak battery. And the S belt becomes loose. I put the jeep in N and give it a small push and now it will start.
IT IS THE AC CLUTCH. When it is cranking over, I can see the pulley spin, but the clutch face does not and it makes that noise. it makes it even with the ac control off, but not as loud when it is on.

Where can I find the clutch? seems like every one around here only has the complete AC compressor.

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:16 am

Jeep Dawg, I am having the same problem.Sounds like a flock of killer parekeets under the hood.
Been going on for bout 4 weeks now.I changed the belt,thinking that was the problem...NOPE
Noise goes away with a/c off,or while a/c is on during acceleration.Kinda imbarassing at the red lights.
I'm still under warranty,just havn't had time to bring it in.Hopefully i can bring it in soon,and i'll post
what they found.
Good luck

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:59 am

Thanks man.
I could not find any parts store that would only get the clutch, they can only get the whole unit. I went to the (OHMYGOD) dealer and they wanted $389.21 for the clutch and $652.78 for the whole unit.
I called my CUZ who runs a parts store and he can get the whole thing for me for $225.00 it's a reman but CHEAPER!

I noticed this morning when I looked under the hood, I saw the front of the clutch was burned with black bubble in the primer on the face and pulley. I guess it burned up on me.
So now I will have to evac the system, replace the compressor, then draw a deep vac on it then dump in a charge.
Good thing I do HVAC work.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:19 pm

Considering all your recent problems, looks like that mud you like playing in is catching up to you!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:45 pm

DaveKJ02 wrote:

Considering all your recent problems, looks like that mud you like playing in is catching up to you!

I guess it has cought up with me.
I guess it is time to get STRONG ARMOR and hit the rock trails insted now.
BODY DAMAGE is better than MECHNICIAL DAMAGE!

john jr · **Joined:** Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:50 am **Posts:** 161

Make sure you change it ASAP...It will lock up mine did 2 weekes ago

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:25 am

I have not fired it up since I noticed this problem. I know it will lock up and will do more damage. My cuz called me this morning to say he has it in his store. I am going to get it this afternoon.

Now I gotta recover the refrigerant and replace comp, then draw a deep vac and charge it.

Next week I am going to guess water pump breaks next...... every week something else breaks and it gets more costly.......

AC Compressor SCREEEEEMING!

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