QuestionThe A/C compressor on my 2001 Buick Regal is making a grinding (metal on metal) sound when the timing belt turns. i can also see some small metal shards coming out from this specific area. what could this be? can it be fixed or must i replace the compressor?
AnswerJaime,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but yes. Your compressor definately needs replacing. From what I understand of your description...
What is happening is, your compressor on the inside is locked up. Your compressor clutch is still engaging. As your belt turns your frozen compressor it is grinding metal on metal sending the metal shards from your pulley.
Or....
If it is still doing it when the A/C is off...
Your air gap setting is way off where it is supposed to be. The air gap is the distance between your compressor pulley and your clutch plate (front of compressor pulley) The setting is way too close and is grinding between your clutch plate and pulley. In this case, you might get away with replacing the compressor clutch and plate, but... 9 out of 10 times it will be roughly the same amount of money to replace the compressor as it would to just replace the clutch. New compressors come with the clutch already installed and the air gap set. And some a/c shops will not replace the clutch alone for the same reason, it takes as much time as just the compressor, the air gap setting can be very finicky and may have to be re-adjusted several times, and they may not have the special tools required to do this.
In my opinion, you would be better of replacing the entire compressor. Same amount of money and you are getting new parts all the way around.
I hope this was of some help, even though it is bad news. If I can be of more assistance now or in the future do not hesitate to ask. If you found this response at all helpful, please rate this answer.
Thank you for the question and good luck in everything
