Bad AC compressor clutch?

[chunney]

So my crx has always squealed a bit on cold starts but lately it's getting worse. I pinpointed it to the AC compressor. The belt is new, so I'm pretty sure that's not the issue. I tried belt dressing on it just in case and that didn't help a bit. I'm almost positive it's the compressor clutch. What are my options here? Do I need to replace the entire compressor? The AC works fine and the system is running R12, is there anyone around the STL area that services R12 systems?

One last question, there's a wire leading between the compressor housing and the pulley; is that supposed to be there?

[Gunmetal Si]

yes its supposed to be there. use lubricating oil. get it behind the pull on the wire side.

[stolle]

i dont think it would be the compressor clutch on startup the clutch "free wheels" so its disengaged. could be the tensioner pulley, if you want to really rule it out take the belt off and see if it does it then you would know for sure. you dont want to mess with an r12 system if it works, r12 is expensive as hell so if you were to open the system to replace the compressor you would have to convert to r134a.

i would really just check the tension on your belts first and rule out the simple things.

[Lynxs1981]

The wire you see is for the clutch. It could be the bearing failing in it. But like stolle posted, I would check the belt tension first.

[chunney]

Belt tension is fine. I'm 99% sure it's the tensioner. I hit the clutch with some lubricating oil, no difference. As soon as I sprayed the tensioner it got drastically louder, oddly enough.

[Lynxs1981]

If you sprayed it and it got louder, that still sounds like the belt slipping. Maybe the bearing is about shot and letting the belt slip across the tensioner pulley.