Perhaps OT but I know the Techs are here - Infinity G20

[Kenwc]

My daughter has a 2000 Infinity G20 that is in otherwise perfect condition except for what appears to be belt squeal when the AC is on....particularly bad when cold.

Best case, bad or loose belt, next would be idler (if there is one?) and worse case AC compressor. AC works fine although that doesn't mean much.

For those of you who work on these, is there anything "inherent" with this model that could be the cause? I'm taking it in but would like to be a little more informed before I do.

Thanks

 

[Bullet_101]

Change the belt, feel all the pulleys for play. They shouldn't make any noise and should spin freely. Chances are if its only during A/C operation its just the belt. Especially if you haven't changed it in 12 years.

 

[amolaver]

i'd probably shoot some belt dressing on it first. if that quiets it down, highly probable the belt is the problem. if not, well, i'd visit the sentra forums (same SR20 motor i believe) and see what the collective wisdom is there.

are you sure the squeal only happens when the AC is on? sounds like starter squeal is a common SR20 complaint - http://www.sr20-forum.com/general-sr20/21907-squeal-during-cold-start-up.html

ahm

 

[Kenwc]

Pretty sure it's not starter squeal based on how long it squeals and the times it does so.

I bought the car a little over a year ago so I don't know how old the belt is.

I'll try belt dressing and see how that goes. I really haven't looked at it at all yet myself.

I worked on my own cars in the past until I simply got tired of it and these days it's frightening to open the hood and see engines turned sideways and all...

It's a really nice little car for a 17 year old.

Thanks for the replys.

 

[oldtools]

It could either be insufficient belt tension or worn AC compressor bearing.

 

[larryq]

My Dodge Neon had the same-sounding problem and it was the AC compressor, as oldtools indicated-- bearings went bad. Chrysler wanted $1000 to replace and I've been driving around with the windows down in summer ever since.

Hopefully that's not the case with your daughter's car-- Infiniti QC is likely better than what I got from Belvidere IL.

 

[gtlaw]

I would check belt tension it tightens at the alternator

 

[WHT]

i'd probably shoot some belt dressing on it first. if that quiets it down, highly probable the belt is the problem. if not, well, i'd visit the sentra forums (same SR20 motor i believe) and see what the collective wisdom is there.

are you sure the squeal only happens when the AC is on? sounds like starter squeal is a common SR20 complaint - http://www.sr20-forum.com/general-sr20/21907-squeal-during-cold-start-up.html

ahm

Be sure the belt dressing is approved for serpentine belts. A lot of it isn't.

 

[yasha32]

You can hit it with a tiny bit of brake cleaner, if it shuts up you got a belt \ pulley issue. Quick easy test I've found

 

[thaghost87]

I would stay away from ALL belt dressings... the gunk up your pulleys and eventually cause your belt to slip.

Take the belt off and try to spin the pulleys by hand to see if any of the stick, grind or squeal.

 

[thaghost87]

You can hit it with a tiny bit of brake cleaner, if it shuts up you got a belt \ pulley issue. Quick easy test I've found

Thats a great test ... you can actually use just about any liquid... We use windshield washer fluid in the shop. Cheap and quickly accessible

 

[greasemonkey44]

look the belt over for cracks, fraying and worn down teeth
push down on the belt and see how much it stretches
if you want you can take the belt off; then grasp each pulley and see if they wiggle up and down(known as play)
id prolly try a belt first; while you got the old one off check the pulleys

 

[Kenwc]

All good input.....thanks ...

 

[vssjim]

i use brake clean or water what ever is handy to check for belt noise

 

[twofifty]

I wouldn't recommend using belt dressing at all. I was told to steer well clear of that stuff buy a few techs i have worked alongside.

As said above, Brake clean or water, shoot it at the belt when it is squealing and see if it goes away.

Another idea would be to switch on the AC and while its running take a look at the AC compressor pulley (if you can see it)Take a look at the center clutch and make sure that when it engages it spins with the pulley consistently and doesn't get stuck or seem like its dragging. Then when it shuts off check that the center clutch stops moving and the pulley carries on moving as it was before.

 

[emoeddy]

theres not much that goes wrong on those cars. (i work as a tech at infiniti). i would recommend replacing the drive belts to start. if that doesnt solve theproblem spray the a/c with a bit of wd-40 or triflow if the noise goes away after shooting the lube then u have a bad a/c clutch. but id have to say more than 85% of the time its the belts.

 

[shampoop]

It could also be that the belt is just too loose. A japanese car of that age probably doesn't have an auto tensioner.