Belt Squeal

[Bear]

I have a belt squeal at at start up on my 1990 325ic and I thought it was the alternator so I tightened that belt but it appears to be coming from the AC compressor belt. If the AC clutch is bad will it momentyarully seize and allow the belt to slip (I need to do AC work to replace receiver/dryer so I am not concerened if my compressor clutch is bad after all it is 16 years old).

[325eXTATIC]

a faulty clutch could do a number of things.... On various cars I have owned or worked on, the Compressor clutch has failed engaged (on all the time) on one of my first gen. RX7's, failed disengaged (off all the time) on a friend of mine's Buick somethingorother, and failed intermittently (on and off without any real pattern) which turned out to be an electrical connection issue and easier to fix, on another friends Miata. So some further investigation is probably warranted to determine if your compressor clutch is failing or not. But a way to quiet your belts if they squeal for this or that reason, is this stuff you should be able to find at any auto parts store called "Belt Dressing" and it basically just sprays on your belts while you have the engine running, and it creates a sticky film on the belt, making it grip to the pulley's more firmly, therefor no squeal!
If it turns out that your compressor clutch is fine, your belts are most likely out of line, which could be the result any number of things, but if that is the case, Belt Dressing (made by STP maybe?) will help a LOT

Josh W.