Step 1: check your water tempShow All ItemsAir-conditioning noises can indicate proper operation as well as an indication there's a problem developing or present. asked to listen to a certain noise the air conditioning system is making and provide feedback about what it means. In this article we'll discuss both sides of the subject. This will include normal noises you should hear from the system when it's working properly, but first we'll tackle the bad sounds that should be investigated further. Most people are interested in the noises their air conditioning system shouldn't be making, so we will address those first. are perhaps the most common complaint from drivers. In this situation the serpentine belt is often the culprit. These belt noises can sound like a major problem and are sometimes mistaken for bearing failure. It's tempting, but not recommended to use belt dressing for diagnosis, because it contains oils that can damage the rubber.

Instead use a high output spray bottle of water and carefully spray the belt to see if the noise disappears. If it stops squealing when wet this is an indication it needs further inspection. A worn or stretched out serpentine belt along with a malfunctioning tensioner are some of the problems that can develop with an air-conditioning drive belt. However, poor quality parts can make a racket all on their own. I prefer to use Continental Elite or Goodyear Gatorback engine belts with quite technology when replacing parts. Bad compressor pulley bearings can also make noise. In this situation it increases when the compressor clutch is engaged. Determining the difference between belt and compressor problems can be tricky. If the belt is old you might consider replacing it for maintenance reasons and see if it solves the noise problem. If you need more information on this subject I have posted some diagnostic information and several popular drive belt diagrams on my other site.

When in doubt seek professional diagnosis. When we talk about AC compressor noises we're discussing sounds it can make when the unit is engaged. air handling unit parts componentsIf the Freon has leaked out, it won't turn on, so nothing is moving inside. central air conditioning parts suppliersIn this scenario people might try adding refrigerant on their own. what size central ac unitThen when the unit kicks on they could hear a noise. A buzzing noise from the compressor when the air-conditioning clutch is engaged is a sign of an overcharged system. In this situation the buzzing sound is caused by liquid refrigerant entering the compressor intake port. Of course, this problem is most common after an air conditioning service when too much Freon has been added.

When this is the case it needs to be corrected as soon as possible, because it can cause internal damage. Replacing a car air-conditioning compressor is expensive and harder than it looks. Also note the AC will not cool properly when it's overcharged. Next up is knocking or clicking sounds while the air conditioner is running. caused by loose mounting bolts that secure individual air-conditioningThis isn't as common as the above conditions, but I have found this issue more then once. You can literally stand back and see the loose component shake and move when the engine is running. Nevertheless, this may actually be the best case scenario for car owners when it comes toTightening a few bolts and adding some thread locking compound will solve the problem for good. Many times a friend or customer will ask me to come listen to a strange hissing sound when the automobile is turned off. Naturally, this is after running the system for a while on a hot summer day. Although this hissing noise, sounds like a bad noise, it's actually a good air conditioning noise.

The hissing sound is caused by equalizing pressure. AC system is running there is a high side and a low side that's divided by either an expansion valve or an orifice tube. sides of the system are necessary for proper operation. When the vehicle is turned off or the air-conditioning compressor clutch is disengaged the system will equalize the pressure. sound is the Freon from the high pressure side slowly feeding into the low pressure side and this is completely normal. Another good air conditioning noise is the roar of theWhen the AC is running the condenser fan will pull additional air through the radiator and the condenser, removing heat from the freon gas and returning it to a liquid state. can cause additional noise that's not present when the systemOften this additional noise is sensed as a problem by the driver as it can be quite loud. You can check with your auto mechanic to make sure that this is a normal condition.

Favorite or show friends this air conditioning noises page. I recommend that you take a few minutes to learn more about your air conditioning system from my free articles available on the you fixThis next link will take you to the beginning page for this section from this page about air-conditioning noises. The homepage is a good place to find out what's covered on the website. Learn about how to get your DIY auto repair questions answered.The full brunt of summer is upon us, and that means drivers across the country are cranking up their air conditioning the moment they get behind the wheel. Cold AC is one of the biggest perks of any vehicle, but it certainly has that "you won't miss it until it's gone" quality. With that in mind, you should be on the lookout for signs that there are some AC problems lurking behind your dash, so you don't get caught in 90 degree heat with no relief in sight. To shed some light on the problems that are worthy of a trip to your preferred auto repair shop, here are five common AC warning signs:

"A lack of AC can mean one of several problems." 1. No air conditioning The first warning sign is the most obvious: no AC. If you turn on your car, turn up the air and get a whole lot of nothing out of the vents – or warm or hot air – you could have a problem with your HVAC system. This could be one of several issues. First, you may just be out of refrigerant. Or, you could have damaged cooling fans or even something simpler, like vents or an AC unit clogged with leaves or other debris. Thankfully, a trip to the auto repair shop can quickly diagnose the problem. Behind non-functioning air conditioning, the next easiest warning sign to spot is weird noises. Say you turn on your AC, but you start to hear banging, rattling or worse? What could the problem be? Like with the first problem, leaves or debris could be clogging up your unit, causing those noises. Or, a major part itself could be worn out and about to break. Once you start to hear some weird noises coming from your car, bring it in to a professional for a diagnosis.

Third on the list is nasty smells. Turning on your AC shouldn't be an unpleasant experience, but sometimes, foul odors start to come out of your vents. This could be a big warning sign of mold growth in your air conditioning unit itself. A bad smell should be taken care of immediately, since mold can lead to respiratory problems and other health concerns. Air conditioning is a major plus during the summer months. After running your air conditioning for a while, you will see water drain out from the bottom of your car. This is perfectly normal and a good sign. However, if you don't see that water draining – and instead are greeted by water stains inside your vehicle – then you could have a problem. Sometimes, the drain on the bottom of your car becomes damaged or clogged, so that water backs up. It will then flow into your vehicle itself, typically pooling under the dash and near the front floor mats. If this is the case, bring it in to your repair shop soon. The fifth and final warning sign is the air conditioning leak.