Running puma 2.4 without accessory belt - AC compressor?

**carpdvl** · 2nd March 2021, 10:30 AM

Hi all,

May be a dumb question but I figure cheaper than making an expensive mistake.

Am I correct in assuming I can run the car without the accessory drive belt for short stints? I have a feeling my AC compressor is on its way out and just want to isolate that the low whirring noise that increases with rpm is indeed coming from it (95% certain it is).

Plan on checking bearing and clutch plate on it all at same time.

Any experience with something similar and/or tips for diagnosis?

Cheers

Gus

**roverrescue** · 3rd March 2021, 07:24 PM

Are you saying you want to flip the belt off
Run the engine in the carport at idle and listen if a noise changes ???

Ie no water pump ?

On a cold engine the risk of hot spotting the engine is low
BUT how will you know that the noise change is the AC and not one of the other 376 bearings and pulleys that are being spun by the belt ???

If you are desperate to run it and drive sans AC I would source an idler pulley and shorter belt ala UK variants offered without AC - I had the part numbers to do such a thing in the shed - will go look

Steve

**carpdvl** · 4th March 2021, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Are you saying you want to flip the belt off
Run the engine in the carport at idle and listen if a noise changes ???

Ie no water pump ?

On a cold engine the risk of hot spotting the engine is low
BUT how will you know that the noise change is the AC and not one of the other 376 bearings and pulleys that are being spun by the belt ???

If you are desperate to run it and drive sans AC I would source an idler pulley and shorter belt ala UK variants offered without AC - I had the part numbers to do such a thing in the shed - will go look

Steve

A valid point - I'm fairly certain the noise is coming from the AC compressor though. Think I'll just pull the belt off and have a play without bothering with the start up

Cheers

**POD** · 4th March 2021, 01:21 PM

You can try just running the engine with the belt in place and switching the compressor on and off. A noise that is present with the a/c clutch engaged and disappears with the clutch off is in the compressor. A noise that is present with the a/c clutch disengaged and disappears with the a/c on is in the a/c clutch. A noise that is there with the a/c on and off is elsewhere. Wiggle the radiator fan to check for movement- should be none. I've replaced all the idler and fan bearings on mine but never had a problem with the a/c compressor.

**carpdvl** · 13th March 2021, 09:39 AM

Yup im starting to think idler bearings or otherwise. Haven't had time to diagnose yet but noise is always present irrespective of AC on or off - AC compressor was my first assumption as just had the system regassed and the noise is emanating from that area on the belt - maybe the idler just below!

Thanks for your advice

Originally Posted by POD

You can try just running the engine with the belt in place and switching the compressor on and off. A noise that is present with the a/c clutch engaged and disappears with the clutch off is in the compressor. A noise that is present with the a/c clutch disengaged and disappears with the a/c on is in the a/c clutch. A noise that is there with the a/c on and off is elsewhere. Wiggle the radiator fan to check for movement- should be none. I've replaced all the idler and fan bearings on mine but never had a problem with the a/c compressor.

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