1995 850 Turbo AC compressor noise

[2012]

Hi fellow 850 owners...
I am experiencing a rather unpleasant whirling noise from the AC compressor when it is engaged, i.e. when the clutch kicks in. It goes away when it disengages. The noise is audible in the cabin, only when you turn the fan down low enough to hear it. Just wondering if some compressor noise is normal, or should it never be heard in the cabin? Car has 146000 miles and the AC is super cold, heck we even have to turn it down on warm days cause its too cold! Thank God for that problem, but am I ok or is it getting time for a new compressor?

[abscate]

AC compressor death song. The good news is you can pay attention to it and keep driving the car until it really gets loud...right now, as described, you will be ok. When you start getting pops and grinds that you can hear while driving, it's time.

Try listening with a hose to see if its in the body of the compressor or the clutch ( near the RHS) of car. If it is the clutch bearing, when it goes, you won't be able to use the car unless you buy a shorter serpentine belt and bypass the AC compressor

[Ozark Lee]

A whirring noise is normal but if it is grinding I would suggest replacing the compressor before it detonates. Once the compressor comes apart internally it distributes shrapnel through the system and the system needs to be flushed. The design of the condenser core is such that it really can't be flushed and it has to be replaced.

Even with a flush, a new orifice tube, and a new filter drier the chances of having a repeat failure increases about 10 fold.

...Lee

[2012]

Thanks, I'll keep an "ear" on it...

[abscate]

My 1999 whirs after I did a major AC RR last year. Luckily we are a 2-3 month AC season latitude so I'm hoping to get 5 more years out of it.