A/C belt squealing

Tiny
UPMM019
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 216,000 MILES
A/C has belt squealing, once it stops the A/C works.

Not sure if it's a belt or tension-er or both.

Also, during times of extreme heat the A/C says it is on but no cooling. No squealing.
Thursday, June 8th, 2017 AT 11:22 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Belt and tension-er should be replaced every 60,000 miles, or when it gets any fluid like oil or foreign substance on it. From your description replace the belt and tension-er, but before you do take brake clean or choke cleaner either is good and spray all pulleys to make sure no oil is on them. Wait for it to dry prior to replacing parts.
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Thursday, June 8th, 2017 AT 12:17 PM
Tiny
UPMM019
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I will replace the belt and tension-er. Are you saying to degrease those first (new parts, etc)?

Also, if after installed I have intermittent A/C when it is really hot would could be the cause of that?
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Thursday, June 8th, 2017 AT 12:29 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Clean the pulleys the belt rides on not the new parts. The intermittent may or may not be caused by a belt problem, but until you get it on and try your A/C we cannot say yes or no.
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Thursday, June 8th, 2017 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
UPMM019
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Tensioner was the problem it merely had no tension left it in. Put a new one on with a new belt cleaned everything before hand and good as new.
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Friday, June 9th, 2017 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
UPMM019
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  • 210 POSTS
OK> I spoke too soon. After the initial fix the A/C was working great cooling nice. Later in the day when it was like 94 degrees with about 50% humidity. It is no longer working. Put a can of recharge on it and the gauge on the recharge can was immediately in the red. Not exactly sure what that all means but there is something wrong. A/C was on in the cab per the lit light but at the compressor the clutch was not engaged.
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Saturday, June 10th, 2017 AT 6:17 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If the a/c was working ok then quit then got cool again it's probably has moisture in system so will need to be pumped down evacuated and accumulator replaced. Adding Freon is not a good idea when you don't know a lot on how it works. You c could have blown a fuse or maybe a pressure switch is bad. Have a mechanic check it out.
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Saturday, June 10th, 2017 AT 12:27 PM
Tiny
UPMM019
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  • 210 POSTS
If it works intermittently do you think switch or moisture? Just seems that after it has worked for a while it just stops working. Most noticeable when it's really hot. Sure if if that has anything to do with it or not. I didn't add any Freon just checked where it sat with the gauge.
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Saturday, June 10th, 2017 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It would be in red if compressor wasn't working if it's intermittent it can be electrical and or moisture in system which you would need professionally fixed. It kind of sounds like you may have a little of both
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Saturday, June 10th, 2017 AT 3:54 PM

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