1998 328i - air conditioning compressor is noisy . .

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news - 21 Jun 2008 01:08 GMT

when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
belt is OK.
anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?

thanks

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Dave Plowman (News) - 21 Jun 2008 12:03 GMT

> when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine belt is
> OK. anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?

Are the idler pulley bearings ok? These do fail and it's possible the
noise gets worse under load.

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Scott Dorsey - 21 Jun 2008 13:20 GMT

>when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
>belt is OK.
>anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?

What noise? Rumbling? Rattling? Screaming?
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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Mike G - 21 Jun 2008 13:23 GMT

> when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
> belt is OK.
> anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?

I have a similar problem with the a/c on my 528i. A slight rattle
when it's switched on. I reckon it's coming from the a/c clutch.
Maybe the clutch on yours has the same problem.

A bit annoying, but as it hasn't got any worse over the last 18
months and can't be heard from inside the car, I don't worry
about it. At least not enough to consider replacing the clutch.
Mike.

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news - 21 Jun 2008 16:15 GMT

your description sounds like what i have.
can't hear the rattle in the car.

good to hear it went on for months and is still ok.

seems from other posts its something you wait
till it breaks to bother with it. not worth replacing
the clutch before hand. If the AC fails its no
big deal till its repaired.
its not like a water pump where u get stuck on the road when it fails.

>> when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
>> belt is OK.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> enough to consider replacing the clutch.
> Mike.

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Floyd Rogers - 21 Jun 2008 15:10 GMT

> when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
> belt is OK.
> anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?

Some compressors rattle; some rattle for years without failing.
However, there might not be enough oil in the system, especially
if it had a leak and lost it's refrigerant at some time, and the person
that repaired it and replaced the refrigerant didn't replace the oil, too.
You could have the system evacuated and new refrigerant and oil
put in and see if that improves things.

FloydR

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Mike G - 21 Jun 2008 21:46 GMT

>> when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
>> belt is OK.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> You could have the system evacuated and new refrigerant and oil
> put in and see if that improves things.

I think you'll find the sole purpose of the oil is to lubricate
the compressor bearings and seals. If the bearings were worn
enough to rattle, the seals wouldn't seal. The system wouldn't
hold gas, and the a/c wouldn't run. so recharging the system with
oil and refrigerant would be pointless.
Mike.

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hsg@h-gee.co.uk - 22 Jun 2008 09:30 GMT

>when air conditioner is turned on. Air conditioner works fine
>belt is OK.
>anything that can be done to reduce the noise ?
>
>thanks

Oops! The magnetic clutch on my E38 disintegrated one day - talk about
noise!!!!!!!!!!

Could be on its way out......?

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Sir Hugh of Bognor

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Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK

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