Aww shim

So that buzzing sound my 2014 Forester’s a/c compressor made since last year? Yeah it wasn’t supposed to do that.

I checked the clutch gap today after suffering mild heat exhaustion in 102 degree weather with the A/C blowing warm… .82 millimeter… Factory specs say 0.1-0.6mm.

Thus it was time to subtract a shim from the shaft.

And then my workday jumped to like 10 hours and crap so what follows:

There’s actually nothing to stop this from turning so I just grabbed it with my hand and used the wrench on the center bolt because I’m some scary beast

The compressor drive plate before cleaning

Pulley side after removing all three shims and before cleaning

I saw it recommended to torque the center to 10 foot pounds which worked fine with my bare hands, once again….

Now it seems I just have cold air constantly and no buzzing noise (was that it slipping??)

Update and data for the purposes of making this a little more indexing friendly: This compressor is a Valeo DKV-10Z
Subaru TSB number 10-84-16R indicates there’s a known issue with the electromagnet that contributes to this and that the official fix is to replace the compressor. However, the issue is actually entirely confined to the clutch itself and I’ve seen a clutch replacement kit available for about $90. If your vehicle is under warranty, go to the dealer for service. If not, the $90 kit should do, and you don’t have to evac/recharge the system. Looks to me like the only interesting tool you might need would be a snap ring plier and maaaaybe a puller and the spanner wrench for the rotor (since not everyone can just grab the front plate of the clutch like I can!)

4 thoughts on “Aww shim”

  1. Could you show me a pic where the shims are and what size split ring puller to use? I’m having the exact same thing with my ‘14 Crosstrek! Thanks

    1. Ahhh drat, I didn’t take a pic, but you don’t need a split ring puller –
      When you remove the front plate of the clutch, the shims will be right in the center recess around where the stem and screw hole are located (looks like a faucet stem as I recall). A dental pick can be used to tease them out.

      1. Thanks! My Subaru dealer wanted to charge me $1200 to put in a new compressor and I stumbled on your post. You’ve saved me a ton of $$$

        1. That being said…. If you do need a new compressor, don’t pay that dealer price, ewww. That little rotary vane compressor isn’t that pricey and an independent shop can change it out fast (replace the serpentine belt at the same time!)

Leave a Reply to David Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.