A/C makes horrible noise and cuts engine off.

BIRGITSACHSE

MEMBER
HONDA

Hi,
I have a 2002 Honda CRV with 68000 miles. This morning I was driving with the A/C on when suddenly a horrible grinding noise started coming from the engine. It sounded like I was dragging cardboard under my tire. When I pulled over and realized it was coming from the engine. The noise stopped as soon as I turned off the A/C. Now after letting the car sit in garage for a few hours I tried the A/C again. With the A/C on it cuts my engine off. Am I looking at a new compressor? Or maybe my alternator? The Fan is working and when the A/C is on the air is cold. Is this serious?

2 Replies

SDALTON19

MECHANIC
87 POSTS

From what you described it sounds as though the ac compressor clutch is failing however you say the ac is blowing cold when you turn it on but that doesnt really makes sense either since you also said when you turned it on it shut the engine off and with the engine off the ac wont blow very cold if the sound and problem are only there when the ac is on then the clutch is most likely failing however replacing the cluth on the compressor is not much cheaper than putting a whole new compressor on which would probabley be your best bet I hope this helps