Followup A/C clutch noise

[RVTRKN]

Went through the old threads looking for conversation about loud noise when clutch engaged compressor, to my surprise the search brought up a lot of threads. Too followup on threads, my truck is now in the shop for a condenser that was leaking, The symptom that alerted me for low ref condition was this noise and then after a short period, cool (not cold) air on pasengers side vents. There was mention of these symptons as normal. The first time in the shop for same condition had same symptoms and when charged, mech installed dye at that time for future trouble shooting. Just thought I would reinform TDR members for future info. Frahm Dodge took good care of me today, just thought I would add that info.

 

[desertryder]

Mine too make a very loud noise when I first hit the button.

Has there been a bulletin from Dodge on this ?

It only make the sound just once when it's first turned on.

Then later in the day it won't do it again.

 

[Diesel Nut]

Mine has done it since new. Asked and was told they all do it. Funny, it only does it when using the A/C though, and never when using the defroster. You can hear the compressor cycling at idle slightly, but no thunk noise ever. Weird. I assume it is telling me that the A/C uses too much fuela and I should just deal with the heat. :-laf

 

[MHorne]

my 05 is doing that. They ended up replacing my a/c compressor but it still does it. I live in a small town now where i go to school with the closest dealership one hour and a half away. So mine won't get fixed until christmas when i go down to az. when you turn your trucks a/c on with the hood popped, you can actually see the freeon coming up above the engine. If you want to save the freeon for awhile and not here that sound i have found that if you run your truck for about 30 min without the a/c on it won't make that sound when you turn it on. But whenever some one gets theres fixed for good let me know what the exact problem is so that way i can tell the dealership what to look for to make it a bit faster for them to fix it. Who knows maybe it is just the compressor and i seem to keep getting a faulty one or something.

 

[2Gen3Gen]

Mine has done it since new. Asked and was told they all do it. Funny, it only does it when using the A/C though, and never when using the defroster. You can hear the compressor cycling at idle slightly, but no thunk noise ever. Weird. I assume it is telling me that the A/C uses too much fuela and I should just deal with the heat. :-laf

Only when the A/C is working? Not mine. Mine does it with the defroster and the A/c. Both 3 gen trucks have done it at start up. Dealer says normal

 

[2Gen3Gen]

my 05 is doing that. They ended up replacing my a/c compressor but it still does it. I live in a small town now where i go to school with the closest dealership one hour and a half away. So mine won't get fixed until christmas when i go down to az. when you turn your trucks a/c on with the hood popped, you can actually see the freeon coming up above the engine. If you want to save the freeon for awhile and not here that sound i have found that if you run your truck for about 30 min without the a/c on it won't make that sound when you turn it on. But whenever some one gets theres fixed for good let me know what the exact problem is so that way i can tell the dealership what to look for to make it a bit faster for them to fix it. Who knows maybe it is just the compressor and i seem to keep getting a faulty one or something.

There is NO fix. Save your time. They all do it

 

[RVTRKN]

There is NO fix. Save your time. They all do it

Mine did it new and my wife complained of cool only air noise was thought to be normal. Mentioned this (cool air on passenger side) to service mgr. and he explained that would be possible low charge and promtly fixed. The noise was never brought to his attention, after repair,I never heard noise again, I guess when I get my truck back and it does not make the noise I will

 

[robert4570]

My 05' and three others i drove made the noise.

Not concerned about it , you might create a problem tinkering with it at the dealer . If aint broke don't try to fix it.

 

[RVTRKN]

Didn't try to fix noise was after thought, glad noise is gone

 

[robert4570]

Didn't try to fix noise was after thought, glad noise is gone

Wasn't worried about it, but now that you mentioned it reconsidering.

I'll keep tabs on the AC , so far it works great even with the clunking noise .

Keep ya'll posted.

 

[RVTRKN]

Wasn't worried about it, but now that you mentioned it reconsidering.

I'll keep tabs on the AC , so far it works great even with the clunking noise .

Keep ya'll posted.

What you look for is the uneven temp. from driver side over passenger side and feel the suction line(low pressure) it will be cool not cold and sweating.

 

[MHorne]

I'm telling you guys in the morning or when you think its gonna make that sound pop your hood and have some one turn on your a/c and you will see that cloud i'm talking about. Thats why the passenger side is getting warm first. Your losing freeon everytime it makes that noise. I'm not letting dodge get away with this problem. losing freeon is normal and thats what that sound is. How many other vehicles make that kind of sound when you turn the a/c on. I can't name any.

 

[RVTRKN]

my 05 is doing that. They ended up replacing my a/c compressor but it still does it. I live in a small town now where i go to school with the closest dealership one hour and a half away. So mine won't get fixed until christmas when i go down to az. when you turn your trucks a/c on with the hood popped, you can actually see the freeon coming up above the engine. If you want to save the freeon for awhile and not here that sound i have found that if you run your truck for about 30 min without the a/c on it won't make that sound when you turn it on. But whenever some one gets theres fixed for good let me know what the exact problem is so that way i can tell the dealership what to look for to make it a bit faster for them to fix it. Who knows maybe it is just the compressor and i seem to keep getting a faulty one or something.

OK The results from startup this morning have verified that the noise has disappeared. I am a A/C tech for industrial commercial & residential applications but not automotive, although I have general knowledge for the sequence of operation. Auto A/C compressors have no oil sump and rely on refrigerant flow to return oil back to the comp. My theory, and it is a theory, is when the comp engages from a long period of an off cycle,( over nite) with the minimum oil return from low condition causes the noise from the internals of the comp to make noise for that instant inertia of rotation and then is lubed just enough to sound normal. Keep in mind that the system is charged with just enough ref. that it will cool but the pasenger side would be slightly warmer air and take a lot longer to cool the cab. This applies only for small leaks as mine had. Noise can be different for others, I'm only reporting this so anybody with the same condition will not fry a comp.