My Car AC Is Making Weird Noises—What Should I Do?

With summer just about here, it’s important to make sure your car’s air conditioning system is in good working order. One of the most common symptoms that there’s something wrong with your vehicle’s AC is when you begin to hear strange noises, either when you first turn it on or during normal operation.

So, what does an overly loud car AC unit in Chino, CA most likely mean? Here’s a quick overview of the possibilities:

• Squealing: If you start to hear a loud squealing sound, this is most likely a problem with your serpentine belt. Your first step should be to spray the belt with a bottle of water. If the noise stops, then you should take your vehicle in for further inspection. If the belt is old and damaged, you may just need to replace it, even if you’re not hearing any strange sounds during AC operation.
• Knocking or clicking: If you hear a constant knocking or clicking sound, this is most likely an issue with some of the bolts that mount the components in the system being loose. You might be able to see where this is happening if you have the engine running with the hood open. Stand back and watch for areas that are shaking around during vehicle operation. The easiest fix will be to simply tighten the bolts that appear to have come loose. A thread-locking compound can help keep them in place and prevent future issues with clicking sounds.
• Buzzing: A buzzing sound is a sign that your AC compressor is likely beginning to wear out. Usually this means you’ll have an overcharged system, which likely means there’s too much refrigerant in the system. In such a circumstance, too much liquid refrigerant will enter the compressor intake port and start to vibrate. Your first step should be to remove the excess refrigerant—you should try to avoid having to replace the compressor, considering how expensive that would be.
• Rattling: If you notice a constant rattling sound when you turn on your air conditioning, there may be several potential issues. It could be a sign of a compressor beginning to go bad, or a serpentine belt or compressor pulley starting to wear out. There’s also a possibility that the compressor clutch can cause a rattling sound in certain conditions if it begins to wear down. The compressor clutch needs to be replaced fairly often relative to other parts of the AC system, so have a professional inspect the system and determine if this is the cause.
• Hissing: One of the most common sounds you’ll likely hear coming from the AC is a hissing noise. If this happens after you turn the vehicle off, this isn’t a bad sign—it’s a result of pressure equalization as the refrigerant moves from the high-pressure side of the compressor to the low-pressure side. There’s no need to worry about this sound.

For more information about what to do about a loud car AC unit or your car air conditioning making noises in Chino, CA, contact Gabriel’s Automotive & Towing to speak with an experienced vehicle technician.

Categorised in: Auto Air Conditioning

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