I've got a noise issue with the compressor on my 2001 F150 super crew 5.4. It makes the noise when the A/C is on or the fan is set to Panel & Floor, Floor & Defrost, or Defrost. It does NOT do it when set to just Panel or just Floor.

After a brief look a I found that the triangular looking piece on the front of my compressor sometimes spins and sometimes doesn't. When set to one of the modes where it makes the noise the triangular looking piece doesn't move...then about every 10 seconds or so it will start to spin and make noise...then it stops spinning and making noise...this repeats over and over at about 10 second intervals.

I assume this is the compressor clutch but I've never worked on this part before. Any advice as to what the problem and the fix is would be much appreciated.

A pic of the offender is below.

 

A/C does not engage on Panel or Floor, but it does on all other

yes, thats the clutch. this is normal. its just letting you know its working

 

The noise mine just started making is anything but normal. You can hear it 50 yards away...it's that loud. One person asked if I had something hitting my fan...i mean it is loud...completely different noise than normal operation.

 

bearings/clutch are going out. mine has already went kaput. im going to wait until spring to buy a new one

 

If the clutch plate fails (plate separation), it will rattle when the clutch is NOT engaged and will quiet down when energized. With the engine off, the plate can be be inspected for looseness.

The pulley bearing can howl either all the time. If you remove the serpentine belt, you can check the pulley bearing for noise or rough feel indicating the bearing is failing.

If the noise happens only when the clutch is engaged, you're looking at either a clutch that is slipping or a compressor that is getting ready to explode internally.

 

ProjectSHO89 - thanks for the detailed response. That was very helpful.

 

Mine was making a noise all the time. It would be really loud somedays. I took off the belt and started the engine to make sure it was possible a bearing. I could spin the ac pulley but it sounded dry. I ended up buying a new bearing friday night and replacing it. It is so quiet now. I did the job myself. Was not to bad of a job.

 

yeah its the ac clutch assembly, you can get the whole thing for 10% over cost right from ford www.tousleyfordparts.com and its the same price as the advance auto one but you get real motorcraft parts. Don't get the autozone one, the clutch doesn't disengage.

 

Had the exact same problem on my 2000 Chrysler Concorde (at 210k) it sure is annoying but at 210k I didn't feel like putting any money in it to fix it when it still worked.

The one thing I don't understand is why the AC Compressor comes on when you put it on defrost in heat? Can anyone explain?

Good luck!

 

Air conditioning dehumidifies...

 

Thats what I figured and it definately makes sense

 

Hi guys. Is that triangular part supposed to spin? Or is it stationary.

 

It spins when the clutch is engaged and is stationary when the clutch is not engaged.

 

Thanks. My AC went out last summer. I don't think the compressor kicks on anymore. I need to check it out. I had the freon checked and they said it was full and that it was something mechanicle. When I first start the truck I hear a terrible rattling noise from that part of the motor. After a few minutes it goes away, although not completely. I'm thinking its either something with the compressor or a bad pully/bearings. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help!

 

I've was having the exact same problem. I'm not sure what yours sounded like but mine sounded like you took a ball bearing, removed a couple of the *****, and let the remaining ones just spin and rattle.

It would only make that sound on a cold start and then go away after a while. It wouldn't always do it on cold starts either.

I figured it was the clutch bearing so I got a new one and pulled the clutch/pulley off but the bearing was fine... I turned the compressor shaft over a few times and it felt like it had a bit of catch in it but I'm not sure if that's just the compressor unloading or something like that?

Anyway, I put it all back together and haven't heard a sound since. *shrugs*