Squealing air con motor

[Phil the Brit]

Just been told squealing noise from engine area is air con motor. £1100 for a new one. Anyone got if on something cheaper...or a recon service. Only squeals for a little while then goes away so can't be much wrong with it

 

[hukent]

If the gas has escaped, so has the lubricant. Problem with air-con. is everyone forgets about it until it it gets as hot as h£ll outside.
You need to keep the air-con on ALL year to circulate the lubricant or the seals dry and crack, and you lose the refrigerant !!!!
Air-con should be serviced annually, just like the rest of the car!
Could also be the bearings.

 

[Gixerboy]

Just a couple of points that may help diagnosis:-

If refrigerant has leaked out of the system, the LP switch will operate & prevent the Compressor clutch engaging , hence the compressor will not run.

Have u checked the condition of the Auxilary belt, could that be the source of the noise?

In temp typically lower than 5 degrees the AC is normally prevented from engaging, this is to prevent icing up of the condenser.

Hope this helps
Dave

 

[Rex B]

If you need a new one Eurospares are showing one for the 4200 at £625, and for the 3200 at £695, both plus vat and shown under the special offer heading.

Rex B

 

[conaero]

Speak to Newton he has identified it as a the same thing used on other run of the mill cars.

 

[BL330]

Don't forget there is a known squealing noise caused by the alignment of the alternator. I had that one fixed.
Also had the a/c compressor replaced when it locked up and broke the auxilliary belt.
Took the opportunity to replace the tension pulleys at the same time, and with the exhaust removed had the starter motor reconditioned.
The "while we are at it" argument can be sensible but very expensive.

Got the compressor from these guys, very good service and best prices - http://www.compressor-express.com/

 

[CatmanV2]

The tensioners can also become squeaky

C

 

[Phil the Brit]

Many thanks for the advice guys, I have sent Newton a PM.

 

[Phil the Brit]

Turns out the end plate in the clutch of the air condenser had stripped its teeth. Sent it to a reconditioning company who will build a completely new one for £225. A lot cheaper than £1100+.
There was nothing wrong with the actual compressor itself but the wouldn't just change the end plate. 48 hour turnaround.

 

[MAF260]

I've just had a brand new air con pump fitted while my car was at Autoshield for a service - thankfully under warranty! Marios sourced a genuine Maserati pump from Italy for a shade under £900+VAT. The whole job including re-gas, new seals etc came to £1,500. My pump bearing had gone and chewed up the casing pretty badly, making it only fit for scrap. The only hint of a problem was that the bearing was noisy. Marios said the whole thing was out of kilter and was about to throw the auxiliary belt off which would have left me stranded. Lucky escape!