DC5 - Loud Noise now A/C doesn't work

Hi Peeps.

I'm hoping you can help. Today I was driving from Nowra to Sydney in 34' heat, A/C turned to min temp. at about a medium fan level. 30min into my drive over the sound of my stereo I hear my engine making a really strange "misfiring metallic" noise. (I wish I could be more specific, by the time I turned down the music the sound started to fade). I immediately pull over check everything I can. Everything seemed to be in order. After I finished inspecting with and without engine on I decided to drive on. Only thing, the A/C no longer works.

When I got home I immediately ran A/C diagnostics. No Error Codes (Aka the recirculate light did not flash)
Then I turned on A/C with the engine running, neither the fans spooled up.
Next the Circuit Breakers. All fine, including No. 14 under the dash...
The car in the past did "whistle" when idling but never had an issue with A/C apart from a couple of times being contaminated with bacteria which I promptly killed, and sometimes blowing very wet air when I turn the A/C off but leave the fans on.

I'm starting to feel scared that I will need to replace the entire system and with casual work at the moment it's the last thing I can afford. Can anyone help with this problem in whatever way?

Many Thanks Guys!

Oh how do I feel for you. This weather Need that shiz.

Have you checked if the serpentine belt is within spec?

I've had a similar problem with one of the honda's in the family, turned out to be something wrong with the compressor, have you checked to see it anything has happened to it or in close proximity to it? or tried somehow to get it going? maybe you have a small leak in your lines. hope you find the issue, australian climate is hektic hot

sounds like the belt fell offf.

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Originally Posted by cbauto

sounds like the belt fell offf.

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Haha this guy. Serpentine belt on a DC5 also drives the power steering and water pumps, I think the OP would have noticed if his steering was heavy and the car overheated shortly after. Don't know anything about AC but since it made a rotating type noise it's surely a fault in the compressor since it's the only moving part in the system driven at engine speed.

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, it's definitely not the belt as it powers PS Pump, Alternator etc. However around 30'000km ago I did replace my belt with an aftermarket one. Gates 7PK1710. It was pretty hard to put on and the marker did indicate that the belt tension was slightly too high (a pic bellow as it is right now). After looking at its serial number it (at least appeared) correct so I left it on the car. When I started it the PS Fluid completely fizzed out. That shit came bubbling out; but once I replaced it with new fluid the noise disappeared and so did the bubbles. The power steering felt really good afterwards too. My guess the old belt was slipping on the PS Pump.

By the looks of things I do need a new compressor. Does anyone have one that I can purchase off them? As far as I understand I can not install the part as I will need to drain the fluid and its illegal without the proper equipment due to environmental factors. Correct? If so, what kind of costs am I looking at?

Many Thanks

http://www.niko.id.au/documents/1.JPG

No one...?!

Hey nikotegra - could be the clutch pack in the compressor has gone out to lunch - this is electronically controlled so when you have the button 'on' for A/C the compressor kicks in and drops out as needed to cool the system. The clutch sits between the pulley and the rest of the compressor body so when there is power applied it 'locks' the pulley to the shaft of the compressor and the compressor does it's magic. Check the wiring to the compressor - not sure on DC5 however on the other cars there is a single wire that runs to the compressor - make sure this is still connected to the loom. It could be as simple as this wire has come apart/broken/dislodged.

On your Q on draining - yes this has a nasty to enviro product in it - the Refrigerant - and needs to be pumped out and then safely disposed of; taking the car to a cooling system place (NatRad if they still exist) and they should be able to help you out on this. They will also diagnose your issue for you - likely that they will recommend fitting a new receiver drier and also possibly refurbished compressor and new refrigerant.

Good luck - start simple, as you've done fuses; wiring; can you hear the system kick in when you press the button on the dash? and then specialist as last resort.

Thanks mate. You're an absolute legend for replying. Its already fixed though. The clutch seized, the belt kept it turning so it sent metal shaving through the entire system. Thankfully(ish) in this case the belt did not snap and this is how I could still get home. With metal shavings in the entire system I had to replace the compressor (which blew a nice hole and damaged my high speed fan) the receiver drier, condenser and refrigerant. Quite a costly exercise.