Loud squeal, burning smell, and now blinking A/C light.

So yesterday I towed the boat to the ramp and while sitting there at idle, in park, I heard a loud squeal noise, like really loud. I turned the truck off and could smell a burning smell. Looked under the hood, didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Started truck again and it started squealing again, so I looked under the hood while it was squealing for a second and couldn't see anything. The squeal stopped by the time I made it back to the cab. Let the truck idle and it seemed fine.

Launched the boat and it did fine. As I'm parking the truck I turn the AC back on, and it starts squealing again, turn AC off and it stops. Turn AC back on and no squeal.

Fished for about four hours and back to the launch. Loaded the boat and made it home without another squeal. Drove the truck today and thought the air felt hot in the truck. Look down and the AC light is flashing.

Any ideas? Blinking AC light seems to reveal a bunch of post about a relay, but I'm imagine it's related to the squeal noise.

Thanks

 

Your AC compressor is seized. You turn AC on and the clutch engages and the belt squeals as it runs across the pulley. Turn AC off and the clutch allows the pulley to spin freely and not squeal.

 

Check your belts. They get worn, stretched and then will squeal when a load is put on them like turning on the A/C or starting the motor.

 

Can you try turning the a.c. On while you are driving? If the AC blows cold when you do this, there is a good chance the compressor is experiencing hi head pressure at idle. This prevents the pump from turning, thus the belt squeals and slips and stinks.

 

Ac compressor on mine just went also. It didn't seize but had noisy bearings and flashing ac light.
The ac compressor will also run in defrost setting. So if it is, or does seize running defrost engages the ac clutch to run the compressor. Which would toast your belt I'd think. There's a relay you can pull so the ac compressor won't run.

 

I figured if it was seized that the squeal would come back when I turn the AC on. Is that not the case?

 

I agree if it were seized it should be noisy. The ac clutch has been an issue from what I've read.

 

Is your AC light flashing and AC not working now?
With the clutch working properly but an internal failure, there will be no noise when the AC is off (either button off or a override from the computer which shuts the system down and turns on the malfunction indicator).
Seized compressor with a seized clutch (or system that doesnt automatically disengage) will give you noise until the belt breaks and then no more noise.

 

Yes, haven't had the noise again. When I turn the AC from off to on, the light is solid for a second then starts blinking.

 

When the a/c light blinks it's telling you that there is a problem with the a/c system and will not allow the compressor to turn on. Based on your description of sounds I would say your compressor and/or clutch is shot. If the compressor itself is ok and it's only the clutch that is bad then you can either 1) replace the compressor and clutch as 1 unit or 2) replace the clutch only, with 1 being the easiest repair.

 

Your compressor is on it's way out. It will eventually lock up and toss the serp belt off.

There's a few things that can make the light blink. None of them are good.

 

No bueno...... mucho dinero to fix.

 

I just replaced my compressor today. It was starting to make noise over 2200 RPM.

If I had continued to run it and it took a dump it would have been waaay more money than the $200ish it cost me to replace.

 

Great news to hear while out of town for a week. I'm hoping it's the clutch, but we will see. I doubt I'll be able to get a compressor in time with the holiday being Tuesday.

 

Messing around with it today, when I click the AC on the clutch engages and starts turning, but then it auto clicks off after about 2-3 seconds, and the light starts blinking. So I'm assuming the clutch is working, but the compressor isn't.

 

That blows... (pun not intended)

I'm in the process of replacing my wife's on a Kia Sorento.
Got my parts pretty reasonably from these guys:
https://www.rycompressors.com/

Quality products, good price. Looks like they have Taco compressors too.

 

Also, get yourself a gauge set. That can tell you a lot about your system and you will need it when you recharge unless you farm the job out.

 

I'm taking it to a shop. Took it in today just for them to see, and they took one look and said clutch. They could see rubber or gasket material poking out. So new compressor is on the way, as well as a new condenser just incase. Anyone know how to swap the condenser? His manual is saying three hours, but seems like it shouldn't be that hard.

 

The hardest part is getting the grill off.

3 hrs for compressor, condenser and dryer ($9).

If the pump grenaded, there is a fairly good chance the system is contaminated and will have time flushed. Hopefully it is just the clutch.

 

It concerns me that they took one look and said clutch.

If a place has any type of a.c. Knowledge, they would have explained to you that replacing pump and clutch is cheaper than just the clutch. I also find it hard to believe they could diagnose clutch by just looking at it.

I hope to be proven wrong. Please note details when you get it fixed and report back.

We all love to learn, im just sorry it's at your expense.