Air conditioner howl

THEGIMS

MEMBER
JEEP CHEROKEE

1994 jeep cherokee country 4.0, 4WD, automatic, 150,000 miles.
Very loud howl coming from passenger side under glove box when in a/c or defrost mode.
Occurs when outside temperature is above 80 degrees and only at idle or low engine rpm.
Blows cold air and fan speeds work. Noise is the same no matter what the fan speed. No howl when in vent or heat mode.
The problem started soon after I had the system re-charged.

4 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

It sounds like a air leak. With even a small leak it can whistle, check to make sure the air ducts to the defroster are tight and in place.

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Monday, August 20th, 2007 AT 3:44 PM

THEGIMS

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for your quick reply.
If it is a leak in the ductwork wouldn't it howl in the heat or vent mode as well as the A/C mode?
This is a LOUD HOWL ( like a tin horn ), not a whistle.
As I said, it only occurs when the outside temps are above 80 degrees and when the engine is at idle or less than 1000 RPM's
I can understand that the plastic ductwork may expand at high temps creating a joint leak, but, I don't understand why the howl stops when the engine gets above 1000 RPM's.
Can I get to the defrost ductwork without removing the dash (ugh) to check out your suggestion re the fittings?

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Monday, August 20th, 2007 AT 5:11 PM

DPWD23

MECHANIC
136 POSTS

Check the vacuum motors that move the dampers back and fourth, and the dampers themselves. Sounds like something is rubing on the fan when it's in defrost or ac mode (the damper would be open for the ac in either mode). When at higher RPM less vacuum = less pull on the damper from the vacuum motor.
You prolly have a leaky one, vacuum leak, or someone kicked the underside of the dash hard enough to bend something in there.

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Monday, August 20th, 2007 AT 5:30 PM

THEGIMS