Your Belt Squeals When Your AC Turns On? Here’s What To Do
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Strange noises coming out of your car are never a good sign. When you start doing some digging and find out the belt squeals when AC turns on, then you may have one problem in particular.
When you start to hear noises when you turn on your AC, don’t panic, we’ve got the scoop on what you can do below.
What’s an AC Belt?
An AC belt is part of your AC system and something that you’ll need when temperatures start scaling up. Though it’s small it serves an important purpose, connecting to the compressor clutch that allows your whole AC system to work and pump out cold air. Though it’s called an AC belt, this belt also works to make sure that electrical currents are passing from one place to another correctly, keeping your car running smoothly.
There are two types of AC belts. One of them is a V-shape and is much narrower while the other is flat and ribbed. No matter what type of AC belt you have in your car, you might need to check it out when you start to hear a squeal, as it might be broken.
Why Belt Squeals when AC Turns On
To pump air into your car, the AC belt is there turning at high speeds. If you’re constantly pumping air into your car, eventually that belt will wear out and start to weaken. This weakening can lead to your belt not working properly or getting worn down until it eventually breaks.
When your AC belt gets to that point, it will break or crack and that’s why your belt squeals when you turn your AC on. You might start to hear this noise very faint and then start to hear it much more loudly the worse the situation gets.
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What To Do When Belt Squeals When your AC Turns On
Getting to the bottom of the squealing noises that your AC is making takes some investigation. On top of that, it may be complicated depending on the setup you have. Still, you can change your belt yourself or taking it to a trusted mechanic to replace it. If you choose to replace it yourself, you’ll need to:
1. Find your type
Belts come in either V-shape or Serpentine shape. Before you do anything, you should look to see what kind of belt you have. Not only will this help you know which one to buy but will also help you know how to replace it.
2. Remove and replace
For removal, you’ll first have to find the tensioner. Then, you can looser the tensioner with a socket wrench and tug on the belt until it comes out. You may have to slide the belt out of some places, so make sure that you really check before you just randomly pull.
With the new belt in hand, feed it around the correct spots and make sure you string it in the correct position. When you’re done with that, tighten the tensioner up again and you should be done.
3. Test it out
Before you wrap up and put everything away, try turning on your car first to see how it sounds. Then, turn on your AC and see how it’s working. If you have no sound and your AC runs smoothly then, you have fixed your AC and all is good. If not, you may need to take it to a mechanic.
Choosing a Mechanic: What to Expect
When you can’t replace your belt on your own or just don’t want to, you can take it over to a trusted mechanic. If that’s your case, then you might be thinking about the time and the cost.
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What’s the Cost?
Just like many other car repairs, the costs vary depending on a few things like:
- Your location
- The damages
- The make and model of your car
Though you will find the variance, you can typically expect to spend anywhere from $25 to $75 for replacement parts plus labor costs. Those who have had a repair know-how steep labor costs can be but, for an AC belt, it shouldn’t take too much time at all.
How Long Can I Drive Without an AC Belt?
It’s not recommended to drive too long when you start to hear screeching from your AC. When your belt starts to act up, it could stop transporting power to your electrical system, which could result in a drained battery. Having to constantly deal with a dead battery is no fun and something that not everyone can handle with their busy schedules.
In severe cases, failure to change out a faulty belt could result in damage to other parts of the car including the engine. When your belt stops turning, it could cause parts of your car to start heating up, which would, in turn, cause the engine to start heating up. If that happens, you could be looking at very expensive repair costs.
Your AC belt will start to make noises when there are tears and, if it completely snaps, your car might not work at all. Be sure to check your belt when you first hear signs of a faulty belt, making sure that you replace it before you have any other issues.
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Keep an Eye (and Ear) Out for Your Car
When you drive, you should always lookout for signs that something isn’t working quite right. Keeping watch of your car is important to keep it running smoothly and to keep you from having to pay huge costs whenever something goes wrong.
With so many parts and pieces of your car working together to make it run, all drivers need to keep a close watch. The AC belt is just one piece that connects to several other pieces and could cause damages to other parts of the car. Replacing it promptly could be the key to saving money and damages in the long run.
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