1998 328i - air conditioning compressor is noisy . .

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

thanks

In article <7EX6k.32$i5.30@trndny07>,
news > wrote:
> 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.

--
*Sorry, I don't date outside my species.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article <7EX6k.32$i5.30@trndny07>, news > wrote:
>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
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"news" > wrote in message
news:7EX6k.32$i5.30@trndny07...
> 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.

"news" > wrote
> 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

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.

"Mike G" > wrote in message
et...
>
> "news" > wrote in message
> news:7EX6k.32$i5.30@trndny07...
>> 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.
>

"Floyd Rogers" > wrote in message
acquisition...
> "news" > wrote
>> 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.

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.

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:08:35 GMT, "news" > wrote:

>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......?

--

Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen

Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK