A squealing belt can be caused by improper tension. The tension is controlled by the angle of the alternator.

Getting the tension right was not simple for me on my 95 accord. What I would do is tighten the belt until it was snug. Then start the car. If I had a squeal, I would loosen up the alternator and tighten the adjustment bolt one turn, then tighten it back up. If the squeal did not return, I had the proper tension.

If memory serves, I needed a 14, 12, and 10 mm sockets to do this adjustment.

 

PAhonda: If belt tension was problem would it only squeal when a/c was turned on? That is the only time it is squealing. Even then, it doesnt do it constant. It comes and goes.

 

First off, noises are tough to diagnose over the web. Is this just belt noise or something else? I would think a failing compressor would make some sort of noise all of the time.

There is extra load on the belt when the a/c is turned on. Belt tension is easy to adjust and is a much simpler fix compared to a/c compressor.

You may want to remove the belt and spin the a/c compressor pulley and the other pulleys driven by that belt to see if they have a rough feel. Then go through the adjustment process. Also inspect the ribbed part of the belt for small cracks, or other wear.

 

The compressor itself only turns when its clutch engages. So a failing compressor would only make the noise when its clutch is engaged so it cycles on & off.

 

The compressor face is dis-engaged from belt drive when AC/engine is Off. This allows you to turn by hand to feel for resistance/grinding feedback. If these are felt, the compressor is failing and should not be used, even if it's cooling.

good luck

 

Isn't it the other way around?

Take off the belt with the engine turned off. The AC compressor pulley will freewheel easily, and you're not turning the actual compressor.

You have to energize the clutch to engage it; then the pulley is locked to the compressor and you can feel the grinding (or feel that it's smooth).

 

The compressor pulley only turns the compressor when the clutch plate is closed by magnetic force allowing the pulley to turn w/ clutch face. When compressor clutch is Off, the clutch face and compressor can be turned by hand to determine if excessive resistance or grinding is present.

The clutch bearing turns w/ the pulley, so any failure of the bearing would show as constant noise/resistance whether compressor was on or off.

good luck