QuestionPlease also read the below question and answer. I have the same noise and the ac tensioner is doing the same thing as the below question. I have replace the ac tensioner twice. I have check the ac cluch and pully, both turn freely and no noise.
What is causing the ac tensioner to go crazy when the ac is turn on?
Thanks
Expert:autohelp
Date:11/3/2004
Subject:ac chevy tahoe NOISE
Question
i have an 01 chevy tahoe and it is making a ratcheting sound from under the hood when it get to a higher rpm with the ac on. turn it off there is no sound. had a mechanic look at it and he said that that it has a serpintine belt that runs everything and a seperate belt that only runs the ac on this ac belt it has a tensioner that mounts to the ac , when the rpm gets up he says that the tensioner is shaking because it has a weak spring, needs new tensioner.. i left with that in mind. then did one of those deals where i talked to a friend who has a friend at the chevy store, took it to him, he is the ac tech, he said well the 2000, 2001, 2002 tahoes were doing this and they started replacing the tensioners only to find out that it did not stop the noise, come to find out it is the clutch trying to lock up in the compressor, faulty compressor sounds like so i asked him about recalls he said no they didnt do that they just sent out some type of letter that if it does it bring it in to a dealer yada, yada yada. well i am noot the original owner. bottom line he says i need to replace the compressor only while it still works he said that if it blows then it is big bucks like 2500 in big bucks because it also has the rear air or at his cost around 600 to do it now or go buy aftermarket and he will put it in... so after all that my question is, have you heard of this, does it make sense, do i have other options???????? 2001 chevy tahoe 2wd 5.3L
Answer
This is one that I have NOT heard anything about. I would go back to the dealer and ask to speak with the SERVICE MANAGER pertaining to this SERVICE BULLETIN and see if one really EXISTS. If it does, He/She should be willing to show it to you. If they will NOT show it to you it either does NOT exist or they are hiding something.
Post this question and ALL of your vehicle information including current mileage to me at:
meperganfortis@msn.com
And I will look to see what I can find out for you.
like I said, I have NOT heard anything about this type of problem.
autohelp
AnswerI have not been able to find a specific service bulletin addressing this issue, But I have heard about the letter that was being put out by the factory advising of SOME vehicles experiencing this problem.
This is typical manufacturer thinking of let's NOT put out a service bulletin on it until we get enough complaints from the customers complaining abot this problem and hopefully the vehicle will run out of the warranty period and we won't have to spend millions of dollars on replacing the defective compressors.
To make a long story short, Since it is a 2001 year vehicle and way out of the warranty period and you are not the original owner your chances of getting a FREE new compressor are ZERO of which I am sure this is what the A/C tech most likely told you.
