General Grande Punto Air Con Noisey

[nunney]

Hi Chaps, this has just started so hoping for some help.

When I turn the Air Con on by pressing the button & turning the fan dial on there is a very load screeching noise which sounds like a belt slipping, but only when the engine is idling. If I rev or drive the nosie stops. The air con works fine other wise.

Could this be just a slipping belt. Does the air con have its own belt? Any replies greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[cainy1989]

does seem like the aux belt slipping under load, does it do the same with everything else on full (lights, fan, rear screen ect) but the AC off?

 

[gi_viper]

You should definitely get this checked and probably shouldn’t use the A/C prior to finding what might be wrong as you could damage your A/C unit or even the engine - extreme scenario but not impossible. The aircon is driven by the auxiliary belt, the one that is visible in the exterior of the engine (the cam belt – the second and more important belt - is within a protecting black box)

 

[nunney]

Nice one, took it to a local garage & they diagnosed that the Air compressor was the cause of the rattling noise. With out taking it off they couldn't be 100% Here's my thoughts,Dealer wants upwards of £800 to fix. Unemployed so no go. Can I simply remove the belt that drives the AC & live with out AC? Effectively turning the car into a no AC Grande Punto? Any diagrams of the pulley & engine would help out.Cheers

 

[Andy Monty]

no you cant as the aux belt also runs the Alternator, the alternator is in a different position iirc from the non air con cars along with the AC versions requiring a tensioner where as the Non AC cars has the belt adjusted by moving the alternator on slotted bolt holes

 

[jameshobiecat]

It sounds like the compressor bearings are shot. Given your current position i'd leave it and just not use the air con.

 

[peter7889]

A cheaper option than buying new from a main dealer is to look on flebay for some body breaking a punto (normaly a few on there) and buy a second hand one.
Or as said earlyer just don't use ya AC.