The New Orleans summer heat takes a toll on more than just our bodies. It is harder for our homes and cars to stay cool. Have you noticed that your vehicle makes a new rattle noise when you turn on the AC? We find that AC systems are prone to fail after months of extended use in the sweltering heat. A sign of a failure beginning to occur in your vehicle is a new rattle noise.
Here are 4 possible causes of a rattle noise in your car when you use the AC:
Under Hood Fan Failure
There is at least one, on many vehicles more fans under the hood of your car. Under hood fans pull air into the engine compartment to help cool the engine and make your a/c function. Under hood fans see a lot of use in the summer months and can fail. A failing under hood fan will often make a rattle or ticking noise when being used.
Climate Control Blower Failure or Debris
There is a blower under the dash of every vehicle that is used to circulate air in the cabin. The air moves across your air conditioning components to cool down the cabin. A rattling noise from under your dash when using the a/c could be a sign of a failing blower, but it could also be a sign of debris. If debris (leaves, dust) can bypass a restricted cabin air filter they may wind up in your blower housing and cause a rattle.
Compressor Failure
A high speed rattle or hammering noise from under your hood only when the a/c is on could be a sign of a failing compressor. Your a/c compressors job is to pressurize the refrigerant. While in use heat and friction are created and can lead to wear. An internally worn compressor can make a rattle sound when in use.
Serpentine Belt Tensioner Wear
Most non electric vehicles use a serpentine belt with a spring loaded tensioner to turn the a/c compressor. Especially when it is hot outside your a/c compressor takes more energy to turn than any other belt driven component. If your tensioner is too worn to take the stress of the compressor on a hot day you may notice a rattle noise from under the hood when the a/c is on.
We recommend having a professional check your vehicle any time you notice a new noise or failure. Early detection of a problem can oftentimes prevent other failures from occurring.
If your vehicle’s AC is making a weird noise, let the mechanics at Tim’s take a look!
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