Engine noise right behind radiator

[Rerb]

On the way home yesterday, I noticed this noise, which loudest when your ear is dead centered on the radiator:
https://youtu.be/eHfwQbYWAqU

I threw it up on ramps, fairly confident I could find the source, but couldn't.

I used my stethoscope to listen to each pulley and bearing, but neither made the noise. It also happened with both cooling fans off, so not that. Water pump sounded good too, and it's definitely mechanical (not belt). Any gurus here have any ideas?

[Rol-co]

Because of the speed i would say something at the altenator, (bearing or something like that)

[Zolli]

Sounds like a bearing to me. Alternator, tensioner, idler - seems like you checked those. Other full-time bearing accessories include the power steering pump (though that would be a different noise) and the air conditioning compressor, which is what I think it is.

The compressor is located forward and close enough to the center to fit the location description. It also spins full-time, even if the AC is off.

[Rerb]

Well, that would really suck as I replaced that compressor less than 3k miles ago. Damn.
On the bright side, the noise went away today after the car warmed up a bit.
On the downside, I was warming it up to drive to my buddy's house with a lift so I could dig deeper. No sound = no diag.
It got noticeably worse after washing my car's engine bay (again, screams bearing)
Where's the bearing on the A/C? I think there's one for the shaft by the timing cover, you think it could be the bearing inside the compressor itself?

[Zolli]

Nah I don’t think it’s the internal bearings. More than likely it’s the one between the compressor shaft and the drive shaft. If you re-used that rubber clutch-like thingy that goes between the the drive shaft and the compressor itself, then I’d definitely bet on that bearing.

Mine made a noise not quite like yours but also got better. What happened is that the dust shield on the bearing itself got ground away by some trapped grit and the ball bearings at first were grinding and then got puked out until there were only like six left in the races. Interestingly, the AC still functioned fine without any noticeable issue.

The replacement bearing is like $35-ish (or was) and is this number: 35BX5212-DDST2NB

What I did, mayyyybe with some success, is I formed a little shroud around the driveshaft clutch thing with aluminum foil tape (like the AC installers use for ducts) to keep dirt and grit out for hopefully a long while.

- - - Updated - - -

*I did the shroud thing after replacing the bearing and cleaning everything up, of course

[Rerb]

Ah, gotcha. Did you have to pull the front end off and remove the compressor to fix it?
When I replaced mine I just undid the jamb nut and threw the new compressor in, I didn't know there was a bearing there

I'll have it on a lift and I'll check that out soon, thank you

[Zolli]

I dunno if you have to remove the compressor. I did, for mine. The answer is probably “yes” but maybe it can stay hooked up and you don’t have to evacuate the refrigerant. That would be ideal.

I have a thread on here somewhere that shows how I dealt with that bearing. I’ll dig up the link and post it here.

[Zolli]

Post #10 here
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...light=35bx5212

[Zolli]

Post #22 also
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...hlight=35bx%2A

[Rol-co]

I dunno if you have to remove the compressor. I did, for mine. The answer is probably “yes” but maybe it can stay hooked up and you don’t have to evacuate the refrigerant. That would be ideal.

I have a thread on here somewhere that shows how I dealt with that bearing. I’ll dig up the link and post it here.

If you want to remove the compressor you have to evacuate i think. but not for the front.

[Zolli]

If you want to remove the compressor you have to evacuate i think. but not for the front.

I think you have to evacuate the refrigerant, too. Those are hard pipes that connect to the compressor, and I don’t recall how far back it is to the flexible portions. Furthermore, removing that big circlip to get to the bearing will be very tough from underneath the engine.

[Rerb]

Ahhh

[Rerb]

Phone posted that last message and won't let me delete it, oh well.

Where is that? I saw the pics, I didn't even know that was a thing, I don't recall seeing it when I did the compressor, I'll look for a diagram as I'm still a bit lost on where it's located

[Rerb]

Never mind - I did some looking and the ac compressor I swapped in came with a new bearing/rubber thing. So if it's bad atleast I can get a new unit warrantied