Air Conditioner Noise / Breath / Sigh / Whisper

[magicstop]

So, I'm curious if I'm going to have problems with my AC in the near future.
For many months, I've noticed my air conditioner making some weird sounds. Most noticably, every few minutes or so, it makes a whispering / breathing / sighing noise. I'm pretty sure when it does this, the air seems colder. It usually lasts for 2 - 8 seconds or so, not longer, and sometimes it seems to be timed with me accelerating (usually in 1st gear). That may just be because that's when it's easiest to hear. Don't know.
Also, one other noise that it's been making: a squirrley, squeally hard-to-describe noise. It happens less frequently, but still usually at least once everytime I have the car on. It's very hard to describe, but maybe the high pitched, almost wet noise of something spinning up rather quickly.

Any ideas, input, etc.? I'd don't want to be surprised with a dead heater in the cold of winter! (or a dead A/C in the heat of summer!)

Thanks!

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[vrusso]

Originally Posted by magicstop

So, I'm curious if I'm going to have problems with my AC in the near future.
For many months, I've noticed my air conditioner making some weird sounds. Most noticably, every few minutes or so, it makes a whispering / breathing / sighing noise. I'm pretty sure when it does this, the air seems colder. It usually lasts for 2 - 8 seconds or so, not longer, and sometimes it seems to be timed with me accelerating (usually in 1st gear). That may just be because that's when it's easiest to hear. Don't know.
Also, one other noise that it's been making: a squirrley, squeally hard-to-describe noise. It happens less frequently, but still usually at least once everytime I have the car on. It's very hard to describe, but maybe the high pitched, almost wet noise of something spinning up rather quickly.

Any ideas, input, etc.? I'd don't want to be surprised with a dead heater in the cold of winter! (or a dead A/C in the heat of summer!)

Thanks!

If it typically happens while accelerating it may have to do with the fact that under hard accelerations the a/c pump is turned off to give you full power during acceleration an then when you get to your crusing speed it kicks back on.

Try this:
Accelerate slowly keep the rpms 3k or less during this time with the a/c on and see if you notice the same sounds. Then accelerate hard and see if the sounds you hear are present. You may just be hearing the pump kicking on and off.

[magicstop]

I'll give it a shot! Sounds like that may be the case, but if so, does anyone else have a really loud, audible noise associated w/ their pump? Is it indicative of a problem?

[bsdoig]

I've notice a similar sigh/hiss in my 05. Seems to only do it under acceleration usually under boost. Its done it for a while now and A/C still works fine. I did notice as well that is does get colder for 8-10 sec. when i makes the noise. Your not alone on this one man.

[cartoonlife]

my brothers 05 had the same issue. started more of a very low whisper then it turned into a louder hiss. eventually his AC compressor got so loud it now needs replacement. GL