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Air conditioner noise

Tiny
TIRWING4
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 79,500 MILES
When I put my air conditioner on it's making a loud buzzing sound and I believe it is near the air conditioner compressor. It's still blowing out cold air and it blows out perfectly fine. It's just making a loud buzzing sound. Any ideas what that could be from?
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 2:24 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
I am thinking this is the clutch on the front of the compressor. Can you get a video of the noise and we can confirm this? Does the noise stop when the compressor clutch cycles off? If so, this is more confirmation that it is the clutch.

A video from under the hood of the noise will really help. Video the compressor if possible. Thanks
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
TIRWING4
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Hello. Thank you for your quick response. I have attached a video of the sound from the car. Also, do you know if this clutch is something that can be fixed without replacing the entire compressor? I spoke to a mechanic and he told me I am better off replacing the entire compressor because then if something happens to the compressor later on, I will be mad I spent the money on three compressor. But that should be my choice, not his. Right? I have bad luck with this mechanic already. I had my brakes done 2 weeks ago and I hear a rattle from the driver side rear wheel when I hit bumps & took it back 3 times but I still hear it. He also put perfect stop brake pads on it that are on eBay for $20.00, yet he charged me $70.00 for them. But I'm sorry, I'm getting into another question. One at a time. Thank you again for your time and quick response. I greatly appreciate it!
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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020 AT 2:03 PM
Tiny
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Okay. Thanks for the video. That helped because if the engine was running the belt should be spinning and it looks like it is not moving. If that is the case, the crank shaft is spinning but the belt is locked due to the compressor not spinning. I suspect the compressor is completely locked up and the belt is seized to the compressor pulley. If that is the case then the compressor will need to be replaced. I would remove the belt and try to spin the compressor by hand with the engine off. If you can't spin it then the whole thing is locked up and requires replacement.

As for you general point. Yes, it is always your choice and if you feel like someone is not giving you the facts to make a decision then I would seek another opinion. You should feel like you have been educated about the issue and given the options on what to do and left to make your own decision that works for you. There is nothing wrong with offering their opinion of what repair they think is best but leaving you thinking it is the only option is not a good thing. If it truly is the only option then you need to leave understanding why it is the only option.
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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
TIRWING4
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Thank you for uploading! :) The belt does move, but only when the engine kicks on. It's hybrid so the engine kicks on and off. I should have sent a video of when the engine is on and the belt is moving but I wanted you to be able to hear the air conditioner sound because that buzzing is only the air conditioner on at the time. Once the engine kicks on the belt goes too but it's much harder to focus on the buzzing sound then. I know if the compressor is not working you will have no ac but my A/C is still amazing and freezes me out inside the car, it just makes that annoying sound when I have the A/C turned up high. When I have the A/C low it doesn't make that sound. Still could be compressor or just the compressor clutch? Thanks for your help again! Very much appreciated!
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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
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Thank you for that. I missed this was a hybrid and that explains everything. Yes, this would be the clutch that is making this noise. However, I don't show repair parts for the clutch. I only show the compressor assembly itself. So I am not sure why the mechanic told you that there was an option unless he knows something I don't. Here is a picture of the compressor.

This is electronically controlled and not part of the belt drive system. That means there is an electronic signal to the compressor to tell it to come on and off so this doesn't have the traditional clutch.

My suggestion would be to try to live with the noise if the compressor is operating. This being a hybrid, this compressor is pretty expensive.

Again, I am not sure why they told you that you may have an option with the clutch because I am not seeing that.

Here are instructions in the diagrams below to show you how to replace the compressor with a guide to help you recharge the system.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.

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Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 AT 8:45 PM

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