Just bought a 88 Maxima in great condition with 138,000 on it. It runs great. The former owner just had a new compressor and belt put on by the dealer. (Hate dealers, do all my own work) It's brand new, but it whines like hell. It screams in tune with the RPM's. Owner tells me, "the dealer said it's fine. Don't worry about the noise." What??? This can't be fine. Anybody ever come across this before? I want to swap out the compressor, but it's brand new.

Jeff

 

Belt could be too tight, check that

 

Sometimes belts squeak when they're new, it may just go away. Like max88q said, the belt could be too tight. Worse case scenerio is the belt could break or it could cause damage to your compressor, so you might want to get it checked. Also, are you sure that it's the compressor belt, it may be one of the other drive belts causing the noise. My belts squeak like hell too, but I think that's because they're getting old. You can try some spray-on belt dressing that can quiet them down.

-C-

 

I'll check the belt. It just seems so me that that's the more the compressor, and not just the belt. It doesn't sound like a belt squeal. Sounds more intense than that. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

Just because the compressor is new doesn't mean the clutch is. A lot of shops will use an old clutch on a new compressor.

The clutch can scream also, if the bearings are wearing...

Sad part is, a clutch costs almost as much as a compressor...

And for the record, they are usually sold seperately, but not always...some rebuilders / shops sell them as a unit.

 

usually if the belts squeal then it needs tighted
you could use a dry bar of soap on the belt to quite it down a bit, never tried

 

Here's a dumb ???, are you getting the noise with the AC on or AC off. Is it possible the dealer forgot to put oil in the compressor? Not a whole lot to check, as everyone already suggested.

The AC clutch was one of the first major repairs that I had to do since getting the car new. The pulley broke off of the hub. I probably should have replaced the compressor/clutch as a unit, but got a new clutch (yes, cost almost as much as a rebuild combo. Didn't want to have to open and recharge the system. Did the work myself.

One thing you can check on that clutch is the hub to pulley clearance (0.020 - 0.031 in). If the clearance is too large, the clutch could be slipping, and cause the noise.

Also a new clutch has to have a break-in operation. Engage and disengage the clutch about thiry times.

Bottom-line, the AC should not be making that much noise.

Al

 

Well maybe I'll be help maybe not but my friends and I mean friends that gave me my maxima said that the ac worked great but sqeeled like H*E* double L and the cut the belt. They are alot more mechanicly incline then I spending thousands and thousands on Hotrods but they bought this car to drive to new job sites across country truly two owners to the car just so they wouldn't wear out there there prefect V8 Hotrods (wanted denpabilty and better gas milage ) anyway the ac worked great and it was the Idler pully that was sqeeling but this is an 82 model not an 88 maybe help maybe not?