# Squealing a/c

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** airconditioning, toyota, pickup\
**Created:** [April 12, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353 "2010-04-12T18:34:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tim512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@tim512](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tim512)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353/1 "2010-04-12T18:34:32Z")

</div>

I have a twenty year old Toyota pickup that makes one loud squeal within the first couple of minutes after the a/c is turned on. It lasts maybe five-ten seconds. It usually only happens once in a day. It stops immediately when the a/c is turned off.  
  
 I’m trying to get an idea of what it might be before I take it to a shop.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353/2 "2010-04-12T18:37:25Z")

</div>

It MIGHT be an old belt that needs to be replaced.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353/3 "2010-04-12T18:56:11Z")

</div>

It’s probably a slipping drive belt. Check the tension on the AC drive belt. It may be time for a new belt.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-a-c/47353/4 "2010-04-12T19:26:32Z")

</div>

It’s probably a bad drive belt. There is a fairly new belt out called the Goodyear “Gatorback” and I hear a lot of good things about it. It’s in the 15-20 dollar range so it’s not cheap but it’s not expensive either.