Aircon compressor going?

[Swedishmoose]

Appologies up front for opening up a new thread just to post a question which might have been asked before.
I couldn't find anything satisfying

I noticed today a whirring noise when my aircon compressor is engaged. It almost sounds like a faulty harmonic balancer or in a way like a supercharger on idle.
The whirring noise changes with changing rpm's.

Aircon seems fine....a bit week first on a very hot day parked in the sun all day but cools down after a while sitting on fan speed 4 and recirculation setting.
I haven't done a re-charge in a while and its the first compressor.

Ford Falcon Futura, year 2000 nearly 200000 original km's

Any ideas?....the noise disappears when ac-compressor is not engaged and returns immediately when clutch engages.

Would be happy about any answer and help....

[russellw]

The AU is fitted with an FS-10 compressor and there are rebuild kits for them that include the compressor bearing. It could also be the A/C compressor clutch that's on the way out although they tend to squeal.

Cheers
Russ

[Swedishmoose]

Hey Russel...

Its not really a squeal like a loose serpentine belt.....its a whirring sound when the compressor is engaged. It was very hot yesterday so i dont know if i can put it down to that.
I checked the inlet and outlet lines and one was cold with condensed water on it and the other was warm and that seemed normal.
I am too busy to do it myself.
Ford would charge an arm and a leg and i'm not sure what other organisation is specialised in ac systems on cars in the Wollongong/ Shellharbour area.

I hope its not the compressor and a regas will do.

[speedzter]

Yes, check that it's not the clutch is not slipping. Replaced mine recently as it had an oil leak, and chewed the clutch out.

[rowan194]

I have a similar problem with my 2002 AUIII Fairmont. The excessively noisy whirring only when the clutch is engaged, and also when the engine has been off for a while sometimes there's a bit of a squeal maybe 30 seconds after I take off. Can't see any obvious belt slipping but I notice the battery voltage is on the low side then suddenly shoots up to normal after the squeal.

Sounds like I have a buggered compressor AND clutch?

How much do they cost to replace at a specialist?

[speedzter]

Cost me $800 to have a new Sanden compressor fitted.

[Vortex-98]

I turn mine on but it never gets cold...think it needs to be regassed

[berney]

my au compressor clutch seized .. heaps of smoke but stopped once a/c turned off . I bought a sanden compressor, receiver drier, and valve as a package off ebay for about $360 went to a/c place to get gas sucked out , put on new stuff ... my condenser was ok but I should have replaced then I would have had a completely new system $200 for condenser .$150 for regas its really good now.
if you are reading this and you have a weird smell in your car and carn't figure it out , it used to drive me crazy and I used to think it was oil on muffler or oil burning on engine , bad fuel etc. Once I replaced the compressor ..no more smell . it was the compressor clutch on the way out

[T3rminator]

My 04 BA does the same. Took it to an auto A/C shop and they said it's pretty standard. Replacing will cost in the region of $800 to $1200. Bit of labour involved apparently as there are a few other linked parts that you need to take care of at the same time.

Recommended that i just ignore it until it completely dies. The A/C is still really cold all of the time so thats not a problem. Just the noise is really annoying, especially when going through underground car parks

[rowan194]

Mine is now super noisy and it's also not cycling properly. If I switch AC on when cruising I can feel the car lurching as it kicks in and out, and the compressor only stays on for about a second each time (excessive friction causing overheat cutout?). Engine bay fan also starts up pretty quickly which didn't used to happen. Not sure it's worth spending $800+ on a repair, but ask me again once summer comes.