Chrysler Repair: 97 Town & Country - Squeaky belt and no A/C, belt pulley, serpentine belt

Question
Hi Roland,

I have this 1997 Town & Country, 3.8, 67.000 miles... a couple of months ago I noticed a squeak coming from the serpentine belt, but usually after it rained and only for a couple of seconds during start... in the meanwhile I have also noticed a noise coming from my A/C, but from inside of the car, under the dash (at least it seems) I would hear this noise on and off during driving, to me it was normal, like as if was shooting off cold air resulting on the noise or something like that, and it would do it for just a couple of seconds as well.

This morning, I started the car, and the squeaky didn't stop, drove about 2 miles, parked for a couple of hours and drove it again. The belt squeaky as still there, and so was the noise from the A/C, except this time, it continued for a long time, and it wasn't blowing cold air anymore...

Have any clues?

Thanks much!
Alex.  

Answer
Hi Alex,
That sounds to me like your a/c compressor or the clutch that couples the belt pulley to the compressor is faulty. If the compressor or the pulley don't turn properly the belt will slip on the pulley and cause the noise. And if the compressor is not turned at the proper rpm it won't be able to refrigerate. So it means looking into that unit to see why it isn't turning well.
Roland