Hi, I am new to this website. I purchased the Camaro last winter. I have been hearing this high pitch noise whenever I start the car. It would be the same no matter how hot or cold the weather is. It is always there when I am idling or driving. The belt seemed new to me. I had the mechanic from the oil change store to verify where I thought the sound came from. However, after changing the tensioner pulley this weekend, it was still the same cricket noise. Is there something else I can look into? My father in law told me to take it to the store and have them look at it, but I would rather work on it myself first. I don't know if this is related, but the AC would not turn over whenever I switch it to defrost. The pressure looks good in the pipe, but I don't think I heard to compressor turn on. I don't mind not having the AC, but could this be related to the cricket noise that I have been hearing? Thanks in advance.

 

The AC compressor is the first thing that came to mind. Look at the AC clutch where there's a gap between the inner hub and pulley (the inner part doesn't turn with the AC compressor off). Put a squirt or two of oil around that gap (careful not to get oil on the belt) and see if it quiets down. If it does, the clutch bearing is on it's way out. The AC not turning on is most likely from being low on refrigerant. Or the compressor could be locked up, but then you'd hear an awful belt noise when it tries to turn on.

 

Sounds like the a/c clutch like 69 said. Also take your belt off and check your tensoner pulley and your idler pulley. It could also be the bearing going aswell on those pulleys. A good way to check the a/c clutch is to remove the belt turn the key to on and spin the a/c pulley. If there's some resistance to it but not alot the clutch is bad. If it just spins then the clutch is either sticking or it's bad.

 

Thank you both for the reply. I am going to see if I can work on it again later this week. Do you think that this car is still safe to drive with this happening? Also, we were trying to locate the idler pulley this weekend, but could not find it. Could you guys point me to the right directions as to where it is or do I even have one on this engine?Thanks again.

 

The idler pulley is just above the a/c compressor pulley. I might be wrong and it could not have it because it's got A/C. The tensoner is below the alternator.

 

Ignore that post. Forgot we were talking about a 3.4 L.