AC Compressor / Clutch Replacement

I'm thinking I may be a prospective member of the new ac clutch replacement club soon. I'm getting a squeal when I am accelerating whenever the ac is on. Its not a constant sound like a bad idler. I replaced the belt a few months ago with no issues after that. I do not smell rubber or see smoke and my ac lights are not flickering (yet). I want to get ahead of this before it gets to be a bad problem. No ac here in Phoenix in the summer is deadly. It was 105 yesterday.
My question is this .... most places I go say the entire compressor has to be replaced with my 06 doublecab prerunner 6 cylinder. But everyone here says its just the clutch replacement. When I try to enter my truck into websites it says it wont match. Should I ignore the "doesnt match" or ???
I dont want to spend the cash if its not going to work as I dont have a lot of extra cash laying around.

 

A little more info may help.
1. Does it squeal only on acceleration?
2. Have you checked the idlers and the tensioner for the proper tension? and I don't know what the proper tension is, but someone here does.
3. Have had any other work done on the AC? Especially, has any freon been added?

Post back, and good luck. 105*

 

Good questions....

Yes. The squeal only happens on acceleration. I have not checked the tension other than is it "snug" without being too tight.
And no, there hasnt been any work done on the system for quite sime time.

 

My compressor clutch just went, and of course this would never have happened on a day that wasn't 95 degrees with high humidity.

Anyway, I'm not gonna bother doing it myself for I'd have to buy some tools and I'm just too lazy at this age of life.

Jim

 

My AC died last month coming home feom colorado. Got it recharged ran like a champ for a few days then it needs to be charged again. Hopefully the leak can be found and fixed. My poor truck I actually thought about buying a new one that seems like a sin.

 

If it leaked out that fast should be easy to find the leak.

 

It's a good thing I had my mechanic do the job. He had to replace the entire compressor and one of the bolts was seized. He had to remove the plow frame to get at it.

Works fine now, but it was expensive.

FYI, my Tacoma is a 2006 with 140,000 miles on it and it still looks like new. I'm getting good use out of it.

Jim

 

I always wondered if it was a good idea or a waste of money to replace the AC compressor as a preventative measure. My truck is 12 years old w/97K miles. Considering that when AC compressors go they contaminate the whole system, why wouldnt someone want to replace the compressor before that happens? Provided they have the tools, of course (which I do). Couldn't that save you from having to buy all the extra parts? Condensor, TXV etc?

 

Who said it was replaced before necessary ?

In my case, it was not functioning no longer. The AC light blinked, and the clutched squealed before it died.

Jim

 

Jim,

LOL I was just thinking out loud and wanting to bounce the idea of preventative replacement to the board. I didn't know if that was a thing or if it was just a waste of money.