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Rattling sound with the air conditioner

Tiny
SHAWN HARRIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 151,000 MILES
When I turn my air conditioner on I hear a loud rattling sound. Thought maybe air conditioner clutch going out, but it does it when my fan turns on to cool down engine. And the air conditioner is off. Confused!
Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 8:54 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Where does the rattle sound come from? Inside the car or under the hood? From your description it sounds to me like the bearings on your cooling fan are going out.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
SHAWN HARRIS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Under the hood and forgot to mention that my battery light comes on and off randomly.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Sounds like a couple issues with the engine cold spin the radiator fan by hand as fast as you can if you hear the noise replace the fan. Also check both fans I believe there is a radiator and air conditioner condenser fan on that van.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 12:16 PM
Tiny
SHAWN HARRIS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Will check those fans. Was hoping it was not my tensioner pulleys or my air conditioner clutch.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
You mentioned it made the noise with the fans on so I was suspecting a fan going out. The fans would be more then the belt tensioner for the part.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
SHAWN HARRIS
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I tried to spin the fan and it made the noise almost could not move it. Seems locked up.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 5:09 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Sounds like you found the problem, the fan motor has failed.
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Saturday, July 30th, 2016 AT 5:28 PM

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