Noisy air con

Fourbears

Active Member
Jul 15, 2013
17
0
I have a 2009 SC 1.4 with climate. Over the past few weeks the air con has become noticeably noisier and now sounds like a grinding noise. Anyone else had these issues at all? When I previously had a similar quieter noise the expansion valve was changed but this was more like a whine. It has got to the stage where I have had to stop using the AC! It does still chill the air when on but I am thinking that the compressor is on the way out...
 

dm222

Active Member
Dec 7, 2013
1,486
49
I also have a noticeable noise on my AC when I suddently acelerate or brake

according to this:

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswa...bout_refrigerant_circuit/possible_complaints/


Noises (refrigerant hammering) occur immediately after the air conditioning is switched on and/or in a curve or when the brakes are applied:
– Discharge refrigerant circuit, evacuate and charge again (too much refrigerant in circuit).


I'm tempted to do that!

Mine is like this one at 2:05

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZIf_qE--Q8&t=2m05s
 
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devJORD

OBD11 Wizard
Nov 14, 2014
387
1
I've taken mine back to Seat for this issue. I was told it's "perfectly normal" as it's simply "operational noise".

I have never heard an Air Conditioner make that noise and I lived in Australia for 6 years.
 

dm222

Active Member
Dec 7, 2013
1,486
49
I've taken mine back to Seat for this issue. I was told it's "perfectly normal" as it's simply "operational noise".

I have never heard an Air Conditioner make that noise and I lived in Australia for 6 years.

To me it doesn't sound normal at all! is yours like the video I posted?
 

matthab

Active Member
Jun 16, 2010
840
29
West Midlands
On my 2010 Ibiza Cupra the aircon was a nightmare as it got older. The compressor made a terrible whine all the time, seat replaced it once and then said it was normal. To add to this the seal to the new compressor then let go so it had to be replaced and re-gassed. After all this the noise never went. It sounded like a high pitch whine which increased with engine revs but disappeared when I turned the AC off.

I never got to the bottom of the noise but it always worked after all that.
 

dm222

Active Member
Dec 7, 2013
1,486
49
Does yours also makes a noise on recirculation?
A slight fan rubbing something noise coming from the passenger feet?
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,054
1,100
South Scotland
Just a thought, maybe remove the pollen filter and see if the fan can blow anything (leaves?) out while the filter is still out.

Noisy compressors, there has been some chat on the Skoda forum that some Sanden compressor can be noisy - especially at engine idle speed, if so, on cars under warranty, the compressor and drier get replaced - I'm just saying that to back up the fact that if you have a Sanden compressor, then it might be or become noisy - for me, living too far North, enabling the compressor, ie to do some work, does not happen very often, so, so far no noises!
 
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RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,054
1,100
South Scotland
RUMAMO, here it is the noise I have and I believe the original poster also is talking about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYwhBRBtmSs

Sorry, but as I have not had this problem, the comments I am making are just what I've read on VAG forums for mainly Skoda as it looks like there is a bad batch of Sandon (correct spelling this time I hope) out there. Though it is possible that some older Sandon compressors were built to have short lives and are now causing trouble in cars from 2009/2010.

Now what I can't say is, if you panic and get that compressor replaced now before it gets any noisier, will that save you needing to get the refrigerant circuit cleaned out - if indeed it is a mechanical failure of that compressor that is causing all of that noise!
Maybe buy a stethoscope and check that the noise is coming from the compressor and not the alternator/belt tensioner and idlers or cambelt/water pump/belt tensioner and relay pulleys.

First thing could be to remove the auxiliary belt, as doing that would exclude the compressor and alternator.
 

dm222

Active Member
Dec 7, 2013
1,486
49
Sorry, but as I have not had this problem, the comments I am making are just what I've read on VAG forums for mainly Skoda as it looks like there is a bad batch of Sandon (correct spelling this time I hope) out there. Though it is possible that some older Sandon compressors were built to have short lives and are now causing trouble in cars from 2009/2010.

Now what I can't say is, if you panic and get that compressor replaced now before it gets any noisier, will that save you needing to get the refrigerant circuit cleaned out - if indeed it is a mechanical failure of that compressor that is causing all of that noise!
Maybe buy a stethoscope and check that the noise is coming from the compressor and not the alternator/belt tensioner and idlers or cambelt/water pump/belt tensioner and relay pulleys.

First thing could be to remove the auxiliary belt, as doing that would exclude the compressor and alternator.

I know, just wanted to share what the problem really is :)
 
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