Help: Squealing AC / 96 Voyager

Our 96 Voyager SE (115K) w/3.0 Mitsu engine makes an awful racket with
the AC on. It's been like this for a few summers. Each year I put a
few cans of R-134 with sealant (which obviously does not work) to
replace what was lost in the winter. Added a can of lube as well. My
low-side pressure gauge reads OK at about 30 degrees. The AC works
great, very cold.
But as the compressor cycles, there is a loud screach/squeal. I don't
think it is the belt as I replaced it and it is very tight. But the
noise is quite embarrassing in traffic.

Do I need a new compressor? Clutch? Too much/too little R-134?

Ideas are welcome.

Thanks!

Matthew

why do you add more each year? I hope you put a gauge on it before you add
because you could have too much in the system and cause the compressor to
work harder than it is designed to. If you don't have a gauge then go to
Wal-Mart (I hate that place too) and buy a cheap kit that has a simple gauge
with it. Test your system for the correct level. My first thought is that
you may have too much in the system. I haven't ever added any to my truck
or either cars and my truck is a 98 Dakota, 00 Neon, and an 02 Intrepid.

"maxima1" > wrote in message
om...
> Our 96 Voyager SE (115K) w/3.0 Mitsu engine makes an awful racket with
> the AC on. It's been like this for a few summers. Each year I put a
> few cans of R-134 with sealant (which obviously does not work) to
> replace what was lost in the winter. Added a can of lube as well. My
> low-side pressure gauge reads OK at about 30 degrees. The AC works
> great, very cold.
> But as the compressor cycles, there is a loud screach/squeal. I don't
> think it is the belt as I replaced it and it is very tight. But the
> noise is quite embarrassing in traffic.
>
> Do I need a new compressor? Clutch? Too much/too little R-134?
>
> Ideas are welcome.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Matthew

why do you add more each year? I hope you put a gauge on it before you add
because you could have too much in the system and cause the compressor to
work harder than it is designed to. If you don't have a gauge then go to
Wal-Mart (I hate that place too) and buy a cheap kit that has a simple gauge
with it. Test your system for the correct level. My first thought is that
you may have too much in the system. I haven't ever added any to my truck
or either cars and my truck is a 98 Dakota, 00 Neon, and an 02 Intrepid.

"maxima1" > wrote in message
om...
> Our 96 Voyager SE (115K) w/3.0 Mitsu engine makes an awful racket with
> the AC on. It's been like this for a few summers. Each year I put a
> few cans of R-134 with sealant (which obviously does not work) to
> replace what was lost in the winter. Added a can of lube as well. My
> low-side pressure gauge reads OK at about 30 degrees. The AC works
> great, very cold.
> But as the compressor cycles, there is a loud screach/squeal. I don't
> think it is the belt as I replaced it and it is very tight. But the
> noise is quite embarrassing in traffic.
>
> Do I need a new compressor? Clutch? Too much/too little R-134?
>
> Ideas are welcome.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Matthew

maxima1 wrote:
> Our 96 Voyager SE (115K) w/3.0 Mitsu engine makes an awful racket with
> the AC on. It's been like this for a few summers. Each year I put a
> few cans of R-134 with sealant (which obviously does not work) to
> replace what was lost in the winter. Added a can of lube as well. My
> low-side pressure gauge reads OK at about 30 degrees. The AC works
> great, very cold.
> But as the compressor cycles, there is a loud screach/squeal. I don't
> think it is the belt as I replaced it and it is very tight. But the
> noise is quite embarrassing in traffic.
>
> Do I need a new compressor? Clutch? Too much/too little R-134?
>
> Ideas are welcome.
===============================================

"A few cans" may exceed system capacity. Since you don't say what "a
few" is...look at the weight of the R-134a in the can, multiply times
how many cans. Now, how many total ounces of R-134a and oil are you
putting in? Compare this to the total system capacity, which is on a
sticker under the hood. If you have too much, the SCREECHING may be the
compressor clutch slipping.

maxima1 wrote:
> Our 96 Voyager SE (115K) w/3.0 Mitsu engine makes an awful racket with
> the AC on. It's been like this for a few summers. Each year I put a
> few cans of R-134 with sealant (which obviously does not work) to
> replace what was lost in the winter. Added a can of lube as well. My
> low-side pressure gauge reads OK at about 30 degrees. The AC works
> great, very cold.
> But as the compressor cycles, there is a loud screach/squeal. I don't
> think it is the belt as I replaced it and it is very tight. But the
> noise is quite embarrassing in traffic.
>
> Do I need a new compressor? Clutch? Too much/too little R-134?
>
> Ideas are welcome.
===============================================

"A few cans" may exceed system capacity. Since you don't say what "a
few" is...look at the weight of the R-134a in the can, multiply times
how many cans. Now, how many total ounces of R-134a and oil are you
putting in? Compare this to the total system capacity, which is on a
sticker under the hood. If you have too much, the SCREECHING may be the
compressor clutch slipping.

My Haynes manual just says to "never use more than 2 cans", which
amounts to 24 oz. My system was so low that the clutch would not
engage until I added 1 can. I added a second 12 oz can to get the
low-side pressure to read about 30 degrees on my gauge. I added oil
last year, so I didn't add any this time.

I was under the impression that the head pressure goes up when there
is too little refrigerant. Maybe I got that wrong.

I'll look for a sticker under the hood. Thanks!
>
> "A few cans" may exceed system capacity. Since you don't say what "a
> few" is...look at the weight of the R-134a in the can, multiply times
> how many cans. Now, how many total ounces of R-134a and oil are you
> putting in? Compare this to the total system capacity, which is on a
> sticker under the hood. If you have too much, the SCREECHING may be the
> compressor clutch slipping.

My Haynes manual just says to "never use more than 2 cans", which
amounts to 24 oz. My system was so low that the clutch would not
engage until I added 1 can. I added a second 12 oz can to get the
low-side pressure to read about 30 degrees on my gauge. I added oil
last year, so I didn't add any this time.

I was under the impression that the head pressure goes up when there
is too little refrigerant. Maybe I got that wrong.

I'll look for a sticker under the hood. Thanks!
>
> "A few cans" may exceed system capacity. Since you don't say what "a
> few" is...look at the weight of the R-134a in the can, multiply times
> how many cans. Now, how many total ounces of R-134a and oil are you
> putting in? Compare this to the total system capacity, which is on a
> sticker under the hood. If you have too much, the SCREECHING may be the
> compressor clutch slipping.

"55chevy210" > wrote in message news:<g_VGc.39509$%_6.4495@attbi_s01>...
> why do you add more each year?

My system leaks somewhere over the winter. This year the level was so
low that the compressor clutch would not even engage until I added 1
can. I added a 2nd can (12 oz) to get some cold air.

Maybe I installed too much---I'll check this weekend.

Thanks!

"55chevy210" > wrote in message news:<g_VGc.39509$%_6.4495@attbi_s01>...
> why do you add more each year?

My system leaks somewhere over the winter. This year the level was so
low that the compressor clutch would not even engage until I added 1
can. I added a 2nd can (12 oz) to get some cold air.

Maybe I installed too much---I'll check this weekend.

Thanks!

Matthew:

I can't help with the squealing/screeching problem (I have a compressor
issue in my '90 V6 Daytona, but it's a grumbling noise), but I would like
to suggest that you might have a bad valve core on your charging port. I
never knew it was bad on mine until I decided I wanted a working A/C.
Mine was empty, and had been open to atmosphere for several months, so I
just went ahead and filled it with compressed air. I found the leak at
the valve where the air went in. I replaced the core with a standard tire
core and it's been fine ever since. Of course, we removed all air and
kept it under vacuum for several hours before refilling it, and there is
still some mild amount of moisture in the system, but overall it works
fine.

HIH somehow

CJ

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