[tedmich]

Help a diagnosis PLEASE! Its a 1993 5s-FE wagon (AT)

Odd combo of symptoms, all happening after a successful timing belt, oil seal and head gasket replacement about 2 weeks ago.

1 Car gives PS belt squeal when turned to extremes
2 Serpentine belt squeals intermittently when AC is ON, stops immediately if AC turned OFF, AC (R12) is cold and strong when running.
3 AC intermittently fails to cool, with no audible belt squeal, with AC switch light FLASHING.

why two squeals? Unrelated? Serpentine belt is ~3months old but recently cleaned, PS pump belt is NEW.

Am planning to:
1 tension belts with Gates Krikit II
2 put in new AC relay

Could failing Alt. or AC compressor give these symptoms?

 

[BMR]

All those symptoms could be caused by belt tension being a bit loose. It's very common for new belts to stretch a little soon after they're installed.

 

[tedmich]

Bad AC compressor, will replace with Denso OEM ($170) off ebay

 

[MyCamry01]

Retension

Re-tension those belts, everything will be good again.

I had the same problem with the my new PS belt after about a week replacing it, it will stretch a little bit after a while (when it's new), I re-adjusted the tension and the squeak went away...
Do the same thing with the Alt/AC belt, it's even easier to adjust by turning the tension adjustment bolt.

 

[Chris Crash]

According to FSM's, after 5 minutes of running, a new belt is considered "used" and has stretched quite a bit. So it should be re-tensioned.

 

[tedmich]

sadly its a fully seized AC compressor, a re-tensioned showed this to be the case...

will install new one when I can find shop willing to pull R12

 

[BMR]

will install new one when I can find shop willing to pull R12

I'm curious to know how difficult it is to find one. I may be in the same position someday. My AC's still working OK, but eventually it's gonna need recharging. I'll be considering converting it to R134a then.

 

[tedmich]

its proving to be a royal PITA, no shop will do it without also doing the conversion ($$) and the state DEQ won't even accept R12 waste and pointed me to the EPA...

Granted venting to atmosphere will not be the final nail in the ozone coffin but it rubs me the wrong way as a chemist. I'll keep looking...

I guess I can lie and state I just want to enjoy the better gas mileage with a shorter belt and empty the system (not convert) but if they want to charge me $100 to take away $100 worth of R12 I'll puke...

 

[JimBowNut]

Where did I hear that One volcanic eruption causes more ozone damage than humans ever have ?............