AC Compressor Clutch

[jco897j]

Is it possible to replace the pulley and clutch assembly without just replacing the whole compressor? I've got an awful noise coming from the front end that I think I've narrowed down to the compressor area. Car runs and drives perfectly normal. AC blows fine. Just a nasty intermittent grindy noise that seems to be coming from the compressor pulley. Ideally I'd like to replace just the compressor clutch and pulley assembly.

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[Smac770]

https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../2/260-260012/

You ask about parts but then don't supply any info about your year. Above is the B8.0 page. If you're B8.5, you'll have to look at the equivalent page but for B8.5 years.

[jco897j]

https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../2/260-260012/

You ask about parts but then don't supply any info about your year. Above is the B8.0 page. If you're B8.5, you'll have to look at the equivalent page but for B8.5 years.

Thanks for that! I apologize for not providing the info. I thought I had a signature set up but I guess that may have been a different site.

Clutch and pulley seem outrageously expensive. For the price of the pulley and clutch, you can get a whole compressor!



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[Smac770]

compressor w/ pulley p/n - pulley p/n

B8.0
Denso 8K0 260 805 E / L - 8K0 260 810

B8.5
Denso 8T0 260 805 E / N - 4H0 260 810 B

(rev E in both cases now replaced by later revisions, L or N)

Well, you certainly won't get an Audi OE compressor for the price of just the Audi OE pulley. But looking at OEM or third-party, same story as for the alternator and its pulley. Nissens is a common third-party alternative.

It could simply be no one bothers to market the pulley alone, so your only pulley alone source is Audi OE, which yeah, will be nuts expensive for what it seems to be.

[RPMtech147]

Is it possible to replace the pulley and clutch assembly without just replacing the whole compressor? I've got an awful noise coming from the front end that I think I've narrowed down to the compressor area. Car runs and drives perfectly normal. AC blows fine. Just a nasty intermittent grindy noise that seems to be coming from the compressor pulley. Ideally I'd like to replace just the compressor clutch and pulley assembly.

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The hub of the compressor is just a fixed pulley, it's not a clutch. For all intents and purposes, the compressor is "always on". The pulley has some thin points in it's construction that shear incase of compressor lockup to prevent the belt from burning off, but other than that it's a fixed pulley with no moving parts.

If it is the compressor making noise, it needs a compressor but the fact you said the AC is still working makes me think it may be something else. (I have had noisy compressors that still functioned, but they were a very consistent whine, like a power steering pump low on fluid, or consistent chattering) I'd make sure the fasteners for the compressor are good and tight.

[mrg_B8TFSi]

Yeah I am not sure it’s in the compressor? If you’re blowing cold air the compressor and electromagnetic clutch are working as intended it could be a bearing on the pulley shaft or it’s likely the idler tensioner pulley.. how does your belt look? Is it glazed from slipping? Probably easiest check would be to remove belt and spin feel the pulleys , if you have the electric steering rack which most B8s have then you’ll only have the tensioner, alternator and A/C make sure they spin free and without noise


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[Smac770]

US 4-cyl B8 do not have the magnetic clutch.

[RPMtech147]

US 4-cyl B8 do not have the magnetic clutch.

I just said that...lol...Hi Smac = )

[Smac770]

Hey RPM. Yeah, I was just "correcting" the prior new post referencing electromagnetic clutch. Didn't read back further than that today since I had already seen the prior posts and had "no follow up necessary" in my head.

[jco897j]

Well it was definitely the AC pulley. It threw the belt today and the pulley bearing was completely wrecked. I have to investigate when I get home if the pulley can be replaced or if I have to do the whole compressor.

Honestly, I probably won't bother if it's the whole compressor. I'm getting up there in miles combined with other issues.

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[jco897j]

Anybody happen to know how long of a belt I might need if I just bypass the compressor?

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[RPMtech147]

Well it was definitely the AC pulley. It threw the belt today and the pulley bearing was completely wrecked. I have to investigate when I get home if the pulley can be replaced or if I have to do the whole compressor.

Honestly, I probably won't bother if it's the whole compressor. I'm getting up there in miles combined with other issues.

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Pic of pulley bearing?

[jco897j]

Pics attached.

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[RPMtech147]

Pics attached.

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That's the first time I've seen one fall off

In the back of my head when this initially posted I was thinking "What if the pulley is coming apart?...Nah, I've never seen that happen."

The Compressor isn't bad. Can be had for about $300 and only takes a few minutes to change, obviously need to recover and refill the refri.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ompressor,6628

[Theiceman]

yeah i was thinking is that happening because compressor is seizing ? resistance to the pulley .

[RPMtech147]

yeah i was thinking is that happening because compressor is seizing ? resistance to the pulley .

Looking at the photo, I'm guessing corrosion just based on the fact OP said the AC was still blowing cold.

[Theiceman]

yeah maybe , i have just never ever seen that ..

[jco897j]

Is there a dryer/desiccant or thermal expansion valve that needs replacing?

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[Smac770]

There is a dryer termed device that goes in the radiator. But none of the system is something you'd replace unless broken.

But what was the rest of the question? That needs replacing ... when, why, for what reason? Sudden "hey, where's the expansion valve so I can replace it" seems so out of the blue to me.

[jco897j]

There is a dryer termed device that goes in the radiator. But none of the system is something you'd replace unless broken.

But what was the rest of the question? That needs replacing ... when, why, for what reason? Sudden "hey, where's the expansion valve so I can replace it" seems so out of the blue to me.

I just replaced the AC compressor in my wife's car and while researching the project found several sources that said any time you open the system up you should go ahead and replace the dryer and expansion valve.

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[Smac770]

I'd start with having the actual workshop manuals so you can read up the actual Audi documented processes for whatever actions you might need to perform. erwin.audiusa.com, pay for a day, get all the PDFs for your VIN.

There's two different condenser coils, and the dryer insert for each is installed differently.
https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../2/260-260040/

part 5 is the dryer insert. I don't recall anything about any expansion valve replacement.

I do see:

When servicing air conditioner, all open components and pipe connections are to be immediately re-sealed.
Reason
Moisture will enter into air conditioner components if they are left open for a lengthy period. If this is the case, air conditioners cannot be refilled without having to replace parts of the system.

There's both an HVAC manual and a R134a Servicing manual. And both have a lot of dense text.

[jco897j]

Thanks! I may have the manual already, I just have to dig through my files. For AC work, I have my local mechanic take care of it so I'm mostly just looking for the exhaustive list of parts I can drop off with the car.

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[ultralightbeam]

i have the same question as mine just did the same exact thing, im guessing you just got rid of the car?