My AC system blows cold air just fine, and its really cold.

But it's has been starting to howell/grinding noise lately. Here's the weird issue. It doesn't do it when the car is first started. Nor it doesn't do it while im driving.

If im sitting at a light, or drive thru at a food place, or i just let the car sit a while with the AC running. I would hop back in, AC is still blowing cold. But when i start to drive off and the engine is building RPM's, i hear the howelling/griding noise. It seems to do it on at part of the day, once the car is at operating temp, Doesn't do it much at night, i guess heat build around the compresspr and it causes to howell. But it goes away as wind is flowing throw the engine bay.

Now my question. Do i have to replace the whole compressor? I know you can buy a clutch and all, but i really don;'t want to go through the hassel of that. I was in walmart and i seen AC oil, Does that recharge the AC compressor with oil?

I just wanna know before i go about changing this compressor.

Thanks!

 

If you turn the AC off, does the noise go away?

IMO it's more of a hassle to replace the compressor than it would be the clutch (assuming the clutch was the problem).

Yes, there is oil for the AC system to replace any that is lost when replacing parts. You don't want to just add oil without knowing how much is in there.

 

yea, the noise does go away when the compressor is turned off. I never charged or did anything the the AC system for the 1 1/2 year i had the car. And the car has 264XXX miles as it stands right now.

So do you think i should i give the oil a shot?

 

Why would you think you need to? It's a closed system, it doesn't need to be recharged unless there's a leak.



Again:
The few compressors I've seen making 'howling' noises died shortly thereafter.

One thing you could check is the refrigerant level, I've seen some that get a lot noisier when they're low on charge.

 

What gets me it just goes away right after i take off and wind is flowing through the engine bay

I mean, it still blows cold air just fine. Just makes that howling noise when the car sits there idleing.

 

Are you sure its coming from the compressor? It sounds like it could be coming from the AC condenser fan from the way you describe it.

The fan doesnt come on intially at start up, but when the pressure gets high enough to bring on the fan.

Check around there.

 

Long shot, but could it be the radiator fan? Howling till u drive and then shutting off when you drive? Im still not sure of the functions of our fans, still learning.

 

i know the fans are ok cause i can hear the turn on and when they operate a full speed, they sound ok. when the noise came up, i had my friend rev the motor, and the noise is coming from the ac compressor

Its more of grinding. kinda like a bad alternator. I know its not the alternator cause it was just replaced not to long ago.

 

Since it's still cold you probably still have a good charge and thus still have oil in the system.

Sounds like compressor bearings. I say drive it until it stops. Once it burns up as long as the clutch will disengage you can still drive the car (without A/C) until you find yourself a new compressor.

Keep your eyes on the classified area for a partout and pick up a compressor.

When the time come if you use a shop with a reclamation unit they can change it out for you.

If you do it yourself you will most likely have to buy yourself a new receiver drier unless you have access to a vacuum system which can help you evacuate the system.

 

i have a local junkyard that has a ac compressor in stock

I jut dont know why it does that when i have it idleing and the ac is running. But it doesnt do it when the car is driving down the road

 

You'll have to make sure your replacement compressor is for that year Maxima. There are differences.