Groaning when AC is switched on

[graphnic]

I've book mine in for a regas next week. £42 with a Groupon deal at ATS. Worth a try.

My worry was/is that it's an iffy bearing somewhere. One doesn't want anything failing an taking belts out with it. Perhaps that's not a risk, I really don't know where the noise is coming from!

[Phil Croxley]

Originally Posted by graphnic

I've book mine in for a regas next week. £42 with a Groupon deal at ATS. Worth a try.

My worry was/is that it's an iffy bearing somewhere. One doesn't want anything failing an taking belts out with it. Perhaps that's not a risk, I really don't know where the noise is coming from!

Obviously you need to satisfy yourself but the car I mentioned has been making the same sound for the past 45k miles. If you're that concerned you need to get the pulleys, bearings and tensioner checked for your own peace of mind.

[Auldgit]

Originally Posted by Phil Croxley

Obviously you need to satisfy yourself but the car I mentioned has been making the same sound for the past 45k miles. If you're that concerned you need to get the pulleys, bearings and tensioner checked for your own peace of mind.

I asked the dealer to check mine over after I bought it and he said all was normal- well he would wouldn't he I hear you say- but we'll see. The noise does remind me that the AC is on....

[Auldgit]

Originally Posted by graphnic

I've book mine in for a regas next week. £42 with a Groupon deal at ATS. Worth a try.

My worry was/is that it's an iffy bearing somewhere. One doesn't want anything failing an taking belts out with it. Perhaps that's not a risk, I really don't know where the noise is coming from!

Let us know how you get on??

[CbrDave]

I get a sort of whining on my S80, ac is ice cold, I just put it down to maybe worn bearing or that's the way it just sounds.

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by Phil Croxley

Obviously you need to satisfy yourself but the car I mentioned has been making the same sound for the past 45k miles. If you're that concerned you need to get the pulleys, bearings and tensioner checked for your own peace of mind.

Yes, that'll be the next step if the regas doesn't sort it. The AC is cold, but it's not icey and I suspect the gas has never been changed, or at least not recently.

I had the belts and tensioners done about 6 months, using the Volvo kit and done by a Volvo specialist, so most should be ok. I don't think that include the AC ones though.

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by seanc

I used to get something similar on my S80 - you could hear it groaning at idle, was somewhat rhythmic, would go away with AC switched off. Re-gas made it go away for a year or so, just kept repeating that on the basis that it was getting slightly low on refrigerant.

I've had the same issue. But I had them fix the leak before filling it again, of course.
A tiny hole in the condenser was the cause.

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by apersson850

I've had the same issue. But I had them fix the leak before filling it again, of course.
A tiny hole in the condenser was the cause.

I assume that showed up in the pressure test?

[graphnic]

For anyone following, after a £43 regass at ATS Euromaster (via a Groupon voucher), the noise seems to have subsided. There is still a faint hint of it, but only, I think, to the degree is has always been there when the compressor first kicks in.

They removed 360g of refrigerant and oil, and replaced it with 750g, so it was very low. The machine went through various pressure testing cycles, and all passes. So I'm not sure why it was so low. But it does seem this was, at least part of, the problem.

[FreshAir]

I'm getting my same vintage one checked on Monday, so will be interesting to see if needs topping up, and if so what the values were. Could be down to time and the smallest losses that are not measurable.

A/C still blowing cold, but maybe not as cold as it could be. No noises though. It's in for the 10 year belt changes at specialist indie so though may as well get A/C checked at the same time.