Water pump or a/c clutch

[saltystix]

Well, there is a debate on what is wrong with my car. It is making a grinding/squeling/chirping noise around the fan belt area.

At first thoughts, we thought it was the water pump. I called my other friend up, he came and looked and he said that it was the a/c clutch. Well, the noise does not go away when i turn the a/c on or off... It is always making noise. My friend said it sounded like when i accelerated that it got louder, but honestly I didnt think it got louder.

I took the car down to my friends pap, he is a autobody guy. He looked at it and said it was the water pump. He also noticed some metal shavings scattered around below, as my friends and me did. He said it was the water pump and it was griding off something, I cant recall what all he said about it, but he said "I bet its the water pump" This man was like 60-70... so I believe him, cuz he's seen a lot probably.

Well I tell my friend that he said it was the water pump and he is telling me that it is the a/c clutch, that something is wrong with it. I don't know.

If there is any help you can give me to what it is, it would be greatly appriciated. I am also taking the car to another mechanic to look at to make sure that the problem is either a a/c clutch or a water pump. I hope it is the water pump, because my friends and me will be able to fix that.

1996 Grand Am Se v6 3.1L

Any other information you need, just ask... Thanks Guys/Girls

[saltystix]

Also... I have not seen the car over heat... if that helps

[turbograndam91]

The ac clutchs are know for making noise the bearing goes out
and the plate hits . You either can pull the plate away or replace the clutch bearing . You do not have to remove the compressor
for either job

[saltystix]

Well... I think its the a/c clutch... As i drove up to the garage i had the a/c on... and i thought i read that if u have the a/c on, the a/c clutch doesnt make that noise anymore. Well anyhow... i had the a/c on, so when I took it up, there was no sound.

So now im wondering what to do. Can i ride with the a/c on... and use a heat setting? right dial on a/c or max and then the climate on hot... will that ruin anything?

The a/c clutch... or the bearings you speak of... is this something i could be able to change on my own? Or would I have to goto the garage to get it fixed?

[turbograndam91]

I say take it to a dealer . You can do it your self but you have to take the motor mount loose at front of motor up top have a jack under the oil pan but have a peice of wood between the jack and oil pan lower the jack and remove the front craddel mount bolt
then you have to remove the wheel and the side plastic cover .
Then remove the 13 mm nut on the ac clutch and use tool
to pull the clutch awat abought the thickness of a dime . You can get the tool frome autozone rent it then take it back when your done. then revers prosedure. alot cheaper then the dealer???

[rixGAphx]

Just to confuse the issue, my '96 V6 made similar noise, and the cause was a bad alternator bearing.
BUT, the noise was quite obviously from the alternator, not forward where the WP and AC are.

There is a tool, called a 'mechanic's stethoscope' which works like a medical stethoscope.

Except, it comes with a thin metal rod on the end, which you CAREFULLY touch to the engine or suspected part.
When you touch the part that is generating the noise, the sound is clearer and stronger.
I'm surprised the old-timer didn't have one, tho maybe he's retired now.

Costs about $20 at Checker/AutoZone/PepBoys, could help you identify which part is bad.

If it's the AC clutch, do NOT try to limp around with the AC on. All you'll be doing is masking the noise.
You'll still have a bad bearing, and it will eventually fail catastrophically. It will sieze, the belt will break, and you'll be SOL halfway past nowhere.

Good luck.
-Rick

[saltystix]

O well thanks... how do I know if its the just the a/c clutch itself, or if its the bearings?

When the a/c is on, I cant hear it... I thought it was ok to drive around. Man I guess I was wrong.

Around my water pump area, it looks like the "spinning thing" is worn out a lil bit off the water pump. I thought thats what was making the noise... but i guess it isnt, since it has to do with the a/c on and off... I'll take it to another mechanic to see what they say...

Sucks having a broken car when you dont have like 300 bucks to fix it.

[4kQuad]

RixGAphx told you how to find it.
get a mechaic's stephoscope and listen. For 20 bucks you can find the problem. When you put the stephoscope on the part that is bad YOU WILL KNOW IT.

Really it's that simple.

[saltystix]

Since today was warm, I decided to take a look at it. This time I made my mom sit in the car and turn the a/c on and off... Well i noticed it wasnt the water pump... it was below the water pump... and it was a disk grinding off the bigger piece... as i drive with the a/c on it doesnt grind... so thats a temperarly fix for now... Later on when I get the money I will fix it. When I get a haynes manual, I'll learn how to take it all apart and try to space it out. The only problem I see is with that disk rubbing up against that piece. Another day I will get a flash light and check it out again. Til then, thank you for your help guys... You've helped me alot!