1991 Chevy C1500, 5.7 TBI, all stock. Just last night while driving home I noticed a rattle/moan from under the hood from the vicinity of the AC compressor. I figure it's summertime in the deep south so what better time for you AC to die right? Anyway, upon driving further I observe that the noise only occurs when the truck is sitting at a light or a stop sign, and it goes away when I either raise the revs off idle or manually shut off the AC from the HVAC panel button. So now i'm thinking i have a AC Clutch going bad, funny thing is, the AC blows cold with no loss of performance while the noise is occuring. I've got two courses of action; 1. Do nothing, deal with the noise until the AC stops working altogether and then overhaul the system (new compressor, lines orfice tube etc. probably needed on a 22+ year old system). Or, 2; replace the AC clutch now before catastrophe happens (seized compressor, thrown serpentine belt, death and destruction).. What say the GRM hive mind?
