Hello all -- just joined the forum, hoping to find info on how to tackle the bearing noise coming from the a/c compressor clutch on my '98 GXE. Maybe this is addressed elsewhere, but I haven't figured out how to search the forum, it keeps telling me I don't have access to that.

The bearing noise is intermittent. Some days it does it, then will go for days without any sound. It sounds like a ball-bearing spinning while it's dry. Turning the a/c on and off has no effect on the sound.

My best guess is the compressor clutch bearing.

Is there a way to change that bearing without removing the compressor from the car? I'm hoping to avoid dealing with the refrigerant.

Thanks for any insights/advice.

 

Is there anybody out there?

 

Fortunatley my Max compressor is running fine, but last week I spent 900.00 on my wife's Mercury Villager A/C system, and guess what it all started with- yep, a noisy clutch. My advice would be to get it to a well qualified mechanic ASAP and see if they can replace the clutch now, assuming the compressor is not bad. I have heard that Maxima compressors are *really* expensive, plus that's just part of the total cost. You will be kicking yourself in a month if you are faced with replacing the compressor and you find out you could have saved it with early intervention. However, one mechanic I spoke to said that 70% of bad clutches are bad because the compressor and/or compressor shaft is going out. Good luck and be sure you are sitting down when you get your estimate to replace the compressor...

 

You can have my compressor for $200.

 

pooper my dads makes one heck of a racket. When you turn the a/c or defroster on it makes the bad noise ....mine seems good at the moment.