Air Con compressor bearing/clutch noise....ignore?

[heners54]

Basically I've noticed the last month or so that while the air con is on there is a faint rumble/grinding from the engine bay, you can only really hear it at idle otherwise the engine noise covers it. A new compressor, fitting and a regas will set me back a few hundred quid, so if it's likely to stay as it is for the foreseeable then I'm keen to leave it be. However I don't want it to sound like an angle grinder within a month or mess up the serpentine belt etc if it seizes up.

Does anyone have similar experience of a noisy compressor?

[anonymous-user]

heners54 said:

Basically I've noticed the last month or so that while the air con is on there is a faint rumble/grinding from the engine bay, you can only really hear it at idle otherwise the engine noise covers it. A new compressor, fitting and a regas will set me back a few hundred quid, so if it's likely to stay as it is for the foreseeable then I'm keen to leave it be. However I don't want it to sound like an angle grinder within a month or mess up the serpentine belt etc if it seizes up.

Does anyone have similar experience of a noisy compressor?

My old Alpina had a slight rattle from the compressor clutch when engaged. It was fine for the year I owned the car. I'd say leave it.

[SO27]

Had a similar problem with the Evo from brand new. However in my case the compressor would randomly make very loud screeching noises. I was never able to demostrate it to the dealer but fortunately (?) it failed completely shortly before the warranty ran out.

When it did go, the compressor pulley seized solid causing the aux belt to slip and get rather warm! I managed to limp into the office car park and as soon as I turned the engine off the stinking hot pulley snapped the aux belt.

[heners54]

St John Smythe said:

My old Alpina had a slight rattle from the compressor clutch when engaged. It was fine for the year I owned the car. I'd say leave it.

Sounds promising If it didn't get any worse it wouldn't bother me, it wouldn't be noticeable if I sold it even. It's just because I know it was silent before.