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Possible aircon squeal

MyfirstVtech

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Location
Cheshire
Car
honda accord
Ok so a wise decision has been made to keep the accord as its reliable and running good but......
I replaced both auxiliary belts and had no squeal before that at all, both belts were gates belts purchased off eBay.
When I turned the air-con on it would squeal loudly for around 10seconds then be ok so I tightened the belt some more and then it would squeal when I start the engine for like a few seconds then stop and when I turn on the air-con on it would squeal loudly for a good 10 seconds but could be more as I turn it off so wouldn't know.
So I fitted the shorter belt for the non air-con model and no more squeal.

With the air-con off and engine off the air-con pulley spins freely so it is safe to start the engine and turn on the air-con and see if the pulley is spinning? Maybe feel if its still free spinning with the air-con clutch engaged?
Apologies for the long winded explanation but I just want to give as much info as possible.
 
The aircon pulley presents no load with the aircon off. When aircon is switched on, the clutch in the compressor engages and then the pulley presents load. So with engine running, get an ***istant to turn the aircon on, while you watch the pulley.
 
So if it's under no load from a belt with the engine running and I start the air-con if the clutch is seized it won't moved but obv if it isn't it will just start spinning.?
I did start the air-con and there was a noticeable rise in revs on idle
 
I'm not sure of the various systems on the 6th gen, but I do know that on the 7th gen there is an output from the engine ECU to the aircon relay, so the rise in idle rpm is a part of the software when aircon is switched on.

The compressor pulley does not present any load to the aux belt until the aircon is switched on. It depends on several things as to the amount of load when the compressor clutch is engaged. If the squeal from the belt is due to the compressor, it's due to slippage over the pulley, but it may not be seized, it may be temporary while the belt takes up the load. You'll only know by watching what happens.
 
Ok cool so what should I be looking for if it's seized?
Am I best to get a genuine Honda belt as there was no noise at all before we changed the belts.
 
If the compressor is seized then the pulley will stop rotating when the aircon is turned on, but if the compressor is not seized then you may see the pulley's rotation slow down a bit.

Belt type doesn't make much difference, Gates are fine, but the ebay seller might have sold you belts that are a bit too long.
 
Right mate so I've just done the test. Engine running and air-con off the pulley spins free.
Engine running and air-con on, the pulley has resistance but still rotates with my fingers.
Do you think it's fine and maybe just a bad belt?
 
Try comparing the new belt with the old belt, new one should be a tad shorter, definitely not longer
 
I'm going to put the new belt on over the weekend and see if I tighten it up will the squeal go away
 
All sorted hopefully I've put the longer air-con belt back on and with a warm engine there is no squeal at all with air-con on or off. Truth will be in whether she squeals when the engine is cold.
 
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