Loud squealing...

[koalrus]

This thing is making a really, really loud squealing:



Is this the A/C Compressor? I think it is one of the pulleys on the front. It did it yesterday for a moment after working on the brakes, but I flipped the A/C controls back and forth for a second, and it stopped. It didn't do it again at all when I drove it to get new tires and back (the maiden voyage by the way), but it did it immediately after starting last night and hasn't stopped. It is much too loud and annoying to take on the road.

I tried to get a picture of the tag on it, but it was kind of dirty, so I wiped it with a rag, and everything came off except the number. Haha.



I hope not, but would I need to replace the entire unit? My brother said something about bearings...

And I really wanted to show it off today...

Thanks in advance!

[amc78concord]

Yes that is the A/C Compressor. It could be just the belts, but looking at how that thing has seen better days, it really could be the bearings inside are indeed worn out.

[IowaEagle]

That is a York Compressor and they do have a crankcase that takes Ester Oil.  If they run dry then it will throw a rod and make a horrible squealing noise because the crank has seized.  (Happened to me).  Hopefully, its just the belt that needs adjustment and/or replacement.

[koalrus]

How would I go about figuring out which of those problems it might actually be?

I just put the longer front belt (A/C belt) on the other day. Maybe it could be tighter? The belt going down to the alternator might need replaced, I guess.

Could it just be dry and not have thrown a rod?

And, just in case, what's the best way/place to get a new compressor?

Thanks again.

[IowaEagle]

Ford and some others used York compressors so you can still find rebuilt ones, or good used ones.  Sanden compressors can still be purchased used or rebuilt.  If your belt is too long then it could very well be slipping when you turn the A/C on. .  From what you said, I am betting on the belt(s).

[ammachine390]

Are you sure that is a York compressor. I thought Eagles only used Yorks on 80 and 81 models, then switched to another type of compressor. Unless they were both york brand compressors?

[IowaEagle]

Boy, my brain is bad.  That is indeed a Sanden compressor.  Sorry about the confusion.

[koalrus]

My bad, I should've mentioned it being an '85 right off the bat. And I think I might have seen "Sanden" on the plaque/stick before it all disappeared.

But, either way, Iowa's suggestions worked! I tightened the A/C belt which seems to be doing the trick for the moment.

I was going to take it to show it off at a family dinner, but it started overheating, I think. It's odd; the temp gauge seemed all right before today, but when I started it this afternoon, the needle was already halfway up. And continued to climb. I let it run for a minute or two with the temp gauge almost at its peak, but nothing under the engine seemed like it had even warmed up. Definitely wasn't overheated, but it scared me enough to not take it out for a spin.

I appreciate all of the help.

[IowaEagle]

Could be a bad sender unit.   Disconnect it and see if the gauge goes back down.

[koalrus]

Disconnect the gauge?

[IowaEagle]

The wire at the sending unit.  Way at the back of the head, on top of it, driver's side.

[LaGuardia]

In a Chrysler Voyager I used to have, the AC compressor failed and got stuck. It resulted in a lot of squealing then a lot of white smoke, then a broken belt. Don't want to scare you, but check if the compressor pulleys are moving freely.

If they don't turn, everything would seem fine until the belts are a bit loose, but things could get worse if you tighten them.

Is your battery light coming on ?

[koalrus]

So, once again, I am reminded of my limited knowledge of automotive mechanics.

I finally got to look at my Eagle again today. When I started it, the gauge was already all the way up. So, I disconnected the sending unit, and the gauge dropped. So I decided to take the sending unit out.

Coolant everywhere. 

Woe was me. This is what happens when I try to do something without asking the board first.

I should have known, I was just in a hurry to get that out and replaced and see if it did the trick.

I live in an apartment complex and had to fill up buckets of water to take them out to rinse off the concrete (I remember having my pet dog getting into some coolant at our neighbor's and dying when I was younger).

On my way out to get a new unit now. I'm sure you were all newbs at some point...

[IowaEagle]

Odd that so much coolant came out.  Typically, very little comes out when replacing the sender.  Was the coolant still hot?

[koalrus]

No, it wasn't hot. I didn't run the car for more than a minute before taking it out. It was definitely under pressure, though. They didn't have the part at the AutoZone I usually go to. Gotta try some other places today, I guess. I thought it was a fairly common part?

[IowaEagle]

Under pressure makes sense.  The part is common to AMC/Jeep, not sure about other makes.