A/C is now making this Chewbacca like noise on my passenger side dash?

Tiny
LIV ROSS
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  • 2003 KIA SPECTRA
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,500 MILES
My car just had the Radiator, Radiator Hose, and Water Pump Belt after the belt coming off without me knowing and my car got too hot. After that has been fixed my A/C is now making this Chewbacca like noise on my passenger side dash. I've ran just the fans and no A/C and there is no noise. The noise only happens when the A/C is on and I'm driving.
Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 AT 1:41 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,114 POSTS
Hi,

That is an interesting one. It doesn't happen at any other time than when the A/C is running, correct? Is it loud enough for you to record and upload for me to hear? I'm questioning if it is the blower motor is on the right side of the dash and that can make noise, but based on what has been done, the blower motor shouldn't have been touched.

Let me know,

Joe
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Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 AT 9:43 PM
Tiny
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The noise starts around the 7-8 seconds marker.
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Friday, June 30th, 2023 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Wow, I did hear it. It sounds like a power steering pump. I know it only happens when the A/C is on, but that is also when there is added load on the belt. Don't laugh but pay attention to see if it is happening when turning.

I'm going to ask the site owner if he ever heard that type of sound from the A/C. He is from CA and excellent with A/C systems.

Let me know about the PS.

Joe
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Friday, June 30th, 2023 AT 9:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Yep, that is a good one, it kind of sounds like a blend door actuator, can you work the controls to see if there is a correlation with the temperature or mode operation, please? Also, can you change the fan speed to observe the noise change as well?
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Saturday, July 1st, 2023 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
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I just drove it around some and tried seeing if the noise was happening when I'm turning and it doesn’t sound like it was happening when I was turning. The main cause of the noise happening that I noticed is when I press the gas down for a bit to get up to speed and then release the pedal it starts to make the noise.
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Saturday, July 1st, 2023 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
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Here is what the passenger side of under the hood looks like. I don't know if this could help, I'm not too good/knowledgeable with cars.
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Saturday, July 1st, 2023 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The idea that you notice it when you press and release the gas leads me to think it is related to a belt-driven accessory under the hood. It could even simply be the AC compressor.

If you are parked with the AC on, can you make it create that sound without driving? If you can, open the hood and have a helper gently press and release the throttle to see if you can hear it under the hood.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, July 1st, 2023 AT 7:35 PM

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