Thread: aircon compressor noise-what is it.

I started the car (RRC 1992 3.9 V8) today for the first time after the big trip to hear a loud "gravelly" noise which my stethoscope indicated was coming from the aircon compressor front area.
The noise is the same with clutch engaged or disengaged so can I assume it is the front bearing of the compressor? AFAIK the clutch bearing would be stopped when engaged.
Anyone had this experience and was a DIY possible?
Regard sPhilip A

That's the strange part Philip.
If its the clutch bearing you won't hear it when the clutch is engaged (cooling), if it's a compressor bearing you won't hear it when the clutch is disengaged. (I have a dodgy comp bearing in the Defender, you can only hear it when the clutch is engaged)

You are absolutely right. my brain must have gone into neutral while on holidays. It must just be the belt .

On that vein , I took out my dead condenser fans today and fitted one I had under the house. It is an Air International 300MM. BUT what a hassle. I made up a bridging piece for each side and rivetted the bridge to the cross bars. It would have fitted easily with the drain for the motor at 3 oclock , but first water would have meant dead fan. I had to bend the horn bracket for clearance.
I also had an old Davies Craig 99% fitted when I realised it was too deep for the brace to fit.Banana. It was hard to admit defeat .

So it is to Supercheap tomorrow for another slim fan.

The problem is that I had to cut off the mounting bolts for the OEM fans so there is no retreat, however seeing Simon at Rovercraft told me they were obsolete without a superseding number, and a Google search last night was unsuccessful I feel certain I am doing the correct thing.
Regards Philip A