Yes we are considering a minivan.

We are considering a particular one because it is being offered for a song. It seems to have a belt squeeling sound ONLY when the A/C is turned on.

It seems minor to me so I am consulting you guys to see if you have any ideas as to what it might be.

It's an 02 minivan for $1000.

Could it be just a pulley? bearings? or does it mean the whole compressor is dying. The a/c still blows cold.

Any ideas are appreciated

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

Belt tensioner, idle wheel pulley and belt are the inexpensive, easy possibilities. I'd probably lean towards (hope?) belt since it may just start slipping under the additional load of the compressor.

We broke down, sucked it up and bought a van after kid #2 and couldn't live without it. Of course, now we have no choice. Mini-bus maybe.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

one more detai:

the belt tensioner and and a/c tensioner pulley were changed but it did not fix the squeeling. when the a/c is of, there is no squeel. only when the a/c is on do you hear the sound.

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

Prolly. But get a can of belt dressing & spray on belt. It the squeal goes away, change the belt.
Probably needs it.
If the squeal remains, something else may be causing the squealling. A bad bearing somewhere maybe.

That seems pretty cheap. Had a mechanic go over it yet? What does the tranny oil looke like (for instance!)

Automobile air conditioner compressors are equipped with an electronically activated clutch that controls compressor engagement. If all belts and idler pulleys have been recently replaced, I would lean towards a compressor or clutch issue. Compressors can and do partially or completely seize. This happened to me many years ago when I rented a van on a hot summer day. I turned the A/C on, the clutch was engaged, the compressor seized, the belt, which also powered the engine's water pump broke, and I became an instant pedestrian.

so can just the a/c clutch be replaced? or does the whole compressor have to go

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

yes, the clutch can possibly be replaced by itself, but in reality a rebuilt compressor (with clutch) is cost effective and cheap. In a minivan you would most likely need to take the compressor off to get the clutch off anyway. Probably not that big an expense- hey didn't you get used to sweating in your (airless)MB anyway??

Sounds like a good deal as long as the other guy gets the fuel cost beating. There may be some great deals on muscle cars coming up if you just like to use them as garage queens.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

It was the compressor that was the root of the problem in my case.

ditto. If it gets quiet it will also allow you to hear the rest of the engine, etc.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

[QUOTE=rs899;1874974]- hey didn't you get used to sweating in your (airless)MB anyway??

yup. i went to the University of Florida for 4 years with no a/c in the car.

i had to bring an extra set of clothes wherever i went. fun stuff.

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Jennifer
90 350sdl