Annoying squeaks! Belts, A/C clutch, large cricket under the hood -- which is it?!?

[sushiman007]

Hello, guys! Newbie sushiman007 here, and I need your help.

Just bought this '84 944 off eBay, drove it all the way home to Texas from Ohio w/this on-and-off squeaking noise. First, I thought it could be the clutch; but finally realized that it only comes on while the A/C is on; and it soon goes away as the A/C is switched off. But still, what is causing it to squeak; and is there a way to fix it?

Thank you in advance for any advice which may help resolve this issue once and for all.

Watch & listen: 1984 Porsche 944 Something Squeaking Under the Hood - YouTube video

[sushiman007]

I have not gotten it fixed yet... :/
Now, as the outside temp has gotten colder, the squeaking sound would come on (without a/c) and sustain the first 4~5 minutes of the morning commute before it goes away.
Is it still the belt; or something else?

[jeffrsmith]

From what you describe, and the sound in your video, it could be a dry bearing in the alternator or the A/C compressor.

Go to your local parts store and pick up a cheap mechanics stethescope, they cost around $5, then you can poke around the case of the alternator and the A/C compressor to locate the source of the squeak and you will have a new tool for troubleshooting other issues as they come up.

Good luck.

[mytrplseven]

Years ago, when we suspected a loose belt, we rubbed a bar of soap on the inside of the belt while it was moving and if the sound disappeared then we knew either the belt or it's tension was at fault. Old School.