newbie needs help with aircon pump clutch???

[b9g]

Hi guys,

I recently bought an A4 2.0tdi avant on an 05 plate and am having problems with it. I noticed a squealing noise when car was in full lock recently, then on the weekend the battery light came on while i was driving! had it checked out from a local mechanic and he replaced the alternator pulley as this was moving in and out of the alternator intermittently so wasnt charging the battery properly as belt was slipping. This solved the battery light problem but while he had the belts off he said the clutch on the aircon unit is also making a knocking noise and quoted me £640 to replace......! When the car is idling there is a slight knocking noise but its much quieter when the aircon is turned on. Is it worth replacing the whole aircon pump or do you think it could be something else? could i get away with just leaving the aircon on or would it mess the car up if i dont get it fixed?

[A4_TDI_Auto_04]

Have the same problem on my '04 A4 TDi. What did you end up doing in the end? The garage haven't come back to me with a price as there looking to see if someone can repair/replace just the clutch unit for me.

Any help would be appreciated!

[b9g]

Hello,

In the end i managed to source a air con compressor unit from a breakers who was breaking the same car, it cost me £140 including delivery. I took it to a local air con specialist and he took of my old unit and we found the pulley mecahnism was knocking when you turned it so it wasnt the clutch. However, if it helps, in the compressor unit from my car, the clutch is located within the unit itslef and not bolted on the outside so isnt easily replacable unless you take the whole unit apart. The guy i used has been an aircon specialist for about 10 years and has never replaced an internal clutch unit. However, on the older units the clutch is on the outside and not so hard to replace, but the advice i got was that if it is the clutch gone, you should still replace the whole unit as parts of the broken clutch could have gone into the unit and cause more problems later on.

In the end i replaced the whole unit and had it regassed which cost me another £110.

Hope this helps.

[ntp]

Hello,

In the end i managed to source a air con compressor unit from a breakers who was breaking the same car, it cost me £140 including delivery. I took it to a local air con specialist and he took of my old unit and we found the pulley mecahnism was knocking when you turned it so it wasnt the clutch. However, if it helps, in the compressor unit from my car, the clutch is located within the unit itslef and not bolted on the outside so isnt easily replacable unless you take the whole unit apart. The guy i used has been an aircon specialist for about 10 years and has never replaced an internal clutch unit. However, on the older units the clutch is on the outside and not so hard to replace, but the advice i got was that if it is the clutch gone, you should still replace the whole unit as parts of the broken clutch could have gone into the unit and cause more problems later on.

In the end i replaced the whole unit and had it regassed which cost me another £110.

Hope this helps.

Hello b9g, I need to replace my compressor as well. How did you find your second hand part? what's the company that you bought it from?

By the way did you replace the aircon radiator as well and how much did this cost?

[b9g]

I found a similar car braking on ebay and phones them up to see if they had the part and they did. didnt replace the rad, jus the compressor unit and had it regassed etc. £140 for th epart which included delivery and £110 for fitting it and having it regassed. hope that helps.

[ntp]

I found a similar car braking on ebay and phones them up to see if they had the part and they did. didnt replace the rad, jus the compressor unit and had it regassed etc. £140 for th epart which included delivery and £110 for fitting it and having it regassed. hope that helps.

Thanks for reply.

I replaced the whole lot. Aircon Direct flushed the whole system and fitted a new rad and compressor. My car is 3 litre tdi quattro and it is not very popular amongst the breakers. There is lots of 2 litre audi's but this is not helpful.

Anyway, I will recommend Aircon Direct to anybody who has a fault with their aircon. Excellent specialists and moutstanding work for a fraction of the main dealer's price.