AC compressor rattle

[visotzky]

The front part of the compressor is rattling around pretty bad and i think it worked itself in somehow to interfere wtih the belt and create a terrible noise. I moved it around and the sound stopped. There does not seem to be a way to tighten this piece.It's a circular peice on the front of the unit, ican't figure out what it does, except rattle around. Can I run the van without the AC belt? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Val

[4whl_billycart]

You can run it with out the Air con belt being on. Don't forget to tighten the nut on the Tensioner so it is not lost whilst driving. The rattle may be the compressor bearing on its way out.

[BCDelica]

Don't forget one down side to running without the air belt is improved mileage, my lemon of a new Camry had the air con belt removed by the dealer. It was the new model line, made in Canada, and just a bad luck car - car seems like a bad word to me nowadays.

[visotzky]

Thanks for the response. Can the bearing be replaced or do yo have to replace the whole unit. Any idea on price?

[Thomas Porter]

Lately I've been having a strange intermittant rattling too. It's loud, brief and metallic in nature. Almost like someone is putting a metal ruler into a fan.
It only happens while the AC is on and my rpms are climbing - like just before the transmission shifts from first to second gear.
I'm going under my delica today and pulling some bash guards to take a look. I have it going on a hoist on Monday to raise the front end a bit anyhow. Will check it out further then.
Hope it's not the AC compressor/bearing/clutch going or something worse. I'd like to keep the AC, despite the mileage loss.
Any ideas people?
Thomas Porter

[visotzky]

That's what my problem was. I would check all pulley's and belts.
Cheers
Val

[rdub]

i as well have that noise and im told its dirt and crap getting into it because its just in a open area close to the ground with little protection how ever iv also heard that a 1988 colt ac unit fits in nicely i sprayed some wd on the belt and the unit just to se if it would stop and it did ,but it came back on my little road trip it only seems to happen after driving for a while,WITH OUT the ac on. who knows.