97gtmt

My car is making a dreadfull ticking/rattling sound from the front. It sounds like a chain is loose and slapping around. The sound goes away when I turn the ac ON, and returns when I turn it OFF. At 1st i thought timing chain, but the idol is smooth and sound is comming from the compressor area. I also thought I smelt a burning smell when the ac was ON when I was comming home from work(electrical wire melting smell). I have a fire exst. in the car with me but I did not have to use it(thank god) I am thinking its the compressor and was just wanting someone who has some experiance with this to hoppfully share their 2cents. thanks

02 Ninja

Could be the clutch on your compressor!

waggs

the same thinghappened to me a few weeks ago. does it cut in and out when you accelerate hard? my compessor clutch turned out to be toasted.

cliffyk

The compressor clutch will make a putrid burnt smell when it slips badly, and they do make a rattlely sound when the bushings/bearings are bad. There's no real fire danger, however it will only get worse.[/align][/align]Be advised that if the idle wheel bearing on the AC clutch fails completely you will shred you serpentine belt, which equals no engine cooling, which equals fix it where it is or get towed...[/align]

97gtmt

Thanks guys, I figured it was the ac clutch or something like that.

DSGSTANZG

I am having almost the same problem. At Idle I get a noise that sounds like a bad bearing rotating, but this happens with the AC on or off now. AC works intermittantly andafter I drive for a while I can see the AC pully is moving slower than the Serpentine belt and the belt starts burning up.

Is it easy to just change the AC Clutch? I have never done this before. Any special tools required?

waggs

it took me like 4 hours to do. i could've done it quicker but i kept forgetting some stuff

go to an autozone and buy the ac clutch. it should cost like $130 i think.

also rent a pulley puller from them, you'll need a pair of retaining clip expanders too.pm me if you need anymore info or step by step instructions