Air con compressor getting noisey

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
falling-out-with-my-car
Posts: 1928
Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 15:26
Location: Northamptonshire
My Cars: Citroen C5 Aircross 8 speed Automatic, Flair Model with far to many toys and nice comfy armchair like leather seats. ha ha Ive just had a conversation with the car. setting everything up verbally
x 24

Air con compressor getting noisey

Post by falling-out-with-my-car »

Hi,

I have noticed that my S2 1.9TD xantia has been making some unusual low note sounds more so when idling, I thought orriginally that it might be something to do with my running the car on filtered WVO.

the revs sound very low once the engine is hot. the low tone rattle/hum seems to be comming from the compressor.

today i replaced the heater blower fan and whilst testing it I turned the air con on and off a few times and noticed that this low level grunt noise disapeared when the air con was switched off. it sounds just like the diesel engine is not running fast enough at idle.

now being as the compressor is attached to the end of the crankshaft this noise is slightly worrying.

has anyone any ideas what it could be please? is my compressor on its way out? car has now done 141,000 miles and had the same compressor when i bought it at 98,000 miles.

your thoughts would be gratefully appreciated, thanks in advance.

regards Nigel.
Citroen Xantia S2 1.9 TD estate 189K soon to be broken for parts Jan 2017 headlamps & radiator fan assembly already spoken for & A 1987 Citroen 2CV6 special just for fun.
New addition Citroen C5 2.0 HDi Exclusive Hatch purchased 09/12/2016 with 83K on the clock.
User avatar
DickieG
Monaco's youngest playboy
Posts: 4877
Joined: 25 Nov 2006, 09:15
Location: Buckinghamshire
My Cars:
x 38

Post by DickieG »

The oil level is low within the A/C system, either a recharge oil can or a full recharge from a A/C specialist.
13 Ram 1500 Hemi
14 BMW 535D Tourer
19 BMW i3s
06 C3 Desire 1.4
72 DS 21 EFi Pallas BVH
User avatar
falling-out-with-my-car
Posts: 1928
Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 15:26
Location: Northamptonshire
My Cars: Citroen C5 Aircross 8 speed Automatic, Flair Model with far to many toys and nice comfy armchair like leather seats. ha ha Ive just had a conversation with the car. setting everything up verbally
x 24

Post by falling-out-with-my-car »

DG,

thanks for that it is a worrying sound and come to think of it the A/C is due for a re-charge this year.

have you experienced similar noises from the A/C systems when the compressor is running?

cheers Nigel.
Citroen Xantia S2 1.9 TD estate 189K soon to be broken for parts Jan 2017 headlamps & radiator fan assembly already spoken for & A 1987 Citroen 2CV6 special just for fun.
New addition Citroen C5 2.0 HDi Exclusive Hatch purchased 09/12/2016 with 83K on the clock.
User avatar
DickieG
Monaco's youngest playboy
Posts: 4877
Joined: 25 Nov 2006, 09:15
Location: Buckinghamshire
My Cars:
x 38

Post by DickieG »

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:have you experienced similar noises from the A/C systems when the compressor is running?
Yes I have, hence the recommendation.
13 Ram 1500 Hemi
14 BMW 535D Tourer
19 BMW i3s
06 C3 Desire 1.4
72 DS 21 EFi Pallas BVH
User avatar
falling-out-with-my-car
Posts: 1928
Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 15:26
Location: Northamptonshire
My Cars: Citroen C5 Aircross 8 speed Automatic, Flair Model with far to many toys and nice comfy armchair like leather seats. ha ha Ive just had a conversation with the car. setting everything up verbally
x 24

Post by falling-out-with-my-car »

is it worth my trying one of these recharge kits DG?

or are they not so good as a trip to the garage?

cheers Nigel.
Citroen Xantia S2 1.9 TD estate 189K soon to be broken for parts Jan 2017 headlamps & radiator fan assembly already spoken for & A 1987 Citroen 2CV6 special just for fun.
New addition Citroen C5 2.0 HDi Exclusive Hatch purchased 09/12/2016 with 83K on the clock.
User avatar
DickieG
Monaco's youngest playboy
Posts: 4877
Joined: 25 Nov 2006, 09:15
Location: Buckinghamshire
My Cars:
x 38

Post by DickieG »

falling-out-with-my-car wrote:is it worth my trying one of these recharge kits DG?

or are they not so good as a trip to the garage?

cheers Nigel.
I've used them a few times with excellent results, but if you're in any doubt then a traditional recharge is the answer. The big concern with using a re-charge can is over filling the system which can seriously damage the pump seals, in order to assess whether this has occurred I re-charge on a very hot day with the system running at maximum cold/fan speed. If the cooling fans run at their higher speed (due to excess system pressure) then I release a small amount of gas, not exactly environmentally friendly I agree but then gas escapes from the system anyway.

Interestingly my worst experience of re-charging A/C on my car was when I used a A/C specialist (not Kwick Fit!) who overcharged the system on my VSX by such a degree that each time the A/C compressor engaged the engine faltered as if it was stalling, so much for only using an A/C expert to work on A/C :grr: As far as I can see if you want a job done properly,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
13 Ram 1500 Hemi
14 BMW 535D Tourer
19 BMW i3s
06 C3 Desire 1.4
72 DS 21 EFi Pallas BVH
Post Reply