So. Had a P5 a few months now and I love the thing. It's always been a little engine noisy. Sounded a little like something with a bad bearing, not in the engine but an accessory or something of that nature. Timing belt and waterpump had been replaced 5k ago so i wasn't too worried about something catastrophic happening.
But today, the noise got louder for 30 seconds or so a few times. And then it stopped, the noise was gone. Also twice today it smelled a little like electrical things frying, if you know what i mean.
On my way home I stopped at an intersection just off the highway, and there was smoke coming from under the hood and the smell was back. I pulled over thinking a wire or component had burst into flames, but all was well.
It was coming from the belt side of the engine, but it was too windy to tell exactly.
But what i did notice was that the A/C compressor clutch was engaging for a turn or two then disengaging every 15 seconds or so. Realizing it probably wasn't going to erupt in flames, i drove the 5 or so more minutes home.
At home i tried the A/C, and predictably it didn't work. It was still engaging for a turn or two but not fully engaging the clutch. Thing is it does the weird semi engaging whether the a/c is on or off. There's also some grease looking stuff on the back of the clutch that looks like it leaked out or something like that.
I'm really baffled by this as the A/C worked perfectly all summer and had no effect on the noise whether it was on or off.
So. My A/C is broken now. The kinda bad sounding bearing noise has completely disappeared. But something in my engine bay is smoking after driving for a while.
Am I right in thinking that the compressor is causing the smoke? Or is my alternator ready to magically catch fire?
I've fixed a lot of things on cars but never ran into something like this. Any thoughts?
TL;DR Had a weird bearing engine noise. Noise goes away. Weird smell sometimes. A/C stops working. Smoke from engine bay after 20min+ drives. A/C clutch engages for a few turns then disengages even with the A/C off. What the hell do i do?
But today, the noise got louder for 30 seconds or so a few times. And then it stopped, the noise was gone. Also twice today it smelled a little like electrical things frying, if you know what i mean.
On my way home I stopped at an intersection just off the highway, and there was smoke coming from under the hood and the smell was back. I pulled over thinking a wire or component had burst into flames, but all was well.
It was coming from the belt side of the engine, but it was too windy to tell exactly.
But what i did notice was that the A/C compressor clutch was engaging for a turn or two then disengaging every 15 seconds or so. Realizing it probably wasn't going to erupt in flames, i drove the 5 or so more minutes home.
At home i tried the A/C, and predictably it didn't work. It was still engaging for a turn or two but not fully engaging the clutch. Thing is it does the weird semi engaging whether the a/c is on or off. There's also some grease looking stuff on the back of the clutch that looks like it leaked out or something like that.
I'm really baffled by this as the A/C worked perfectly all summer and had no effect on the noise whether it was on or off.
So. My A/C is broken now. The kinda bad sounding bearing noise has completely disappeared. But something in my engine bay is smoking after driving for a while.
Am I right in thinking that the compressor is causing the smoke? Or is my alternator ready to magically catch fire?
I've fixed a lot of things on cars but never ran into something like this. Any thoughts?
TL;DR Had a weird bearing engine noise. Noise goes away. Weird smell sometimes. A/C stops working. Smoke from engine bay after 20min+ drives. A/C clutch engages for a few turns then disengages even with the A/C off. What the hell do i do?
