P1 air con - REAL problem
P1 air con - REAL problem
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Discussion

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

253 months

Monday 24th May 2010
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Turned on the air con for the first time in months and months, and within 2 seconds it sounds like someone is taking an angle grinder to the area around my driveshafts.

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

FlatPack

1,019 posts

269 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
My old Supra started making a horrible grinding noise from the AC compressor when I turned the aircon on (it still worked though!).

It was the aircon compressor clutch bearing breaking down on mine. Eventually it got worse and I could see the pulley on the compressor wobbling when the AC was switched off and then finally the AC just wouldn't turn on anymore. Stripped it down, got a new bearing but by that point the play in the old one had destroyed the coils in the electromagnetic clutch too so it didn't work anymore anyway frown

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

253 months

Monday 24th May 2010
quotequote all
The noise was so bad in mine i had to turn it off immediately. So hopefully i haven't done any long term damage either. Makes no noise when turned off!

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

250 months

Monday 24th May 2010
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2nd hand compressor won't be a lot of money. Try Grade A Subaru.

ST170Bird

502 posts

219 months

Monday 24th May 2010
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Mine did the opposite, I had an awful screeching noise until I turned it on,then it got a lot better - but still made a noise.
It was the compressor clutch, the belt turns the pulley all the time, but as mine had seized it was slipping over the pulley - hence the noise, and why it got better when I turned it on. I was lucky and got a second hand compressor for £40, and then just had to get it fitted and re-gassed.
I know that doesn't really help, but if it starts when you turn it on, it sounds like the compressor as this where the load is.
Hope you get it fixed soon.
(I have an RB5 now, and not an ST170, so it wasn't a ford).
(Does anyone know how to change my log-in name?)

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

253 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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Thanks for the feedback guys.

ST170 man - glad you're not in a Ford. Although had one of those for a week through work a few years back and enjoyed lighting up the front wheels round the back of knightsbridge all day! Fun.

My car is going back to Subaru to get sorted, just hope it's not going to be pricey...otherwise scoobybits here i come!

Scooby P1

Original Poster:

2,617 posts

253 months

Friday 4th June 2010
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Best news ever from a Subaru dealer - the air con noise was actually some arm that had lost it's clip inside the engine bay and was hanging down touching the compressor. When you turn the air con on it was grinding against this arm! A replacement clip at no cost and problem solved.
How often does a problem get foxed for nothing? Result!