Help with diagnosing AC compressor whine. (1 Viewer)

[Gnarwgn]

Bringing this string back to life (hopefully), @birch hill if you're still out there will you flip the lights on and let us know where you landed?

In the meantime, I think I'm experiencing the same issue, only difference is that I'm at 250k miles. When AC is on and the vehicle is in park, the compressor makes a loud growling/gargling noise. Still works, just sounds like its working pretty hard and definitely negatively impacting my street cred. Accelerating from a stop, it 'winds up' as described above and makes a noise matching the RPM's until it hits 3rd and then dies down.

If I had to guess, I would say the compressor is announcing its retirement. And I'm worried that if I roll the dice much longer I'm going to end up stranded without AC in the middle of the next family summer roadtrip. Which would be bad.

 

[willyroo]

And I'm worried that if I roll the dice much longer I'm going to end up stranded without AC in the middle of the next family summer roadtrip

Which happened to us over Easter, we were camping and water skiing. Luckily it was only 24c and cloudy for the 300km drive home!

When the compressor goes, it goes suddenly.

 

[Gnarwgn]

Which happened to us over Easter, we were camping and water skiing. Luckily it was only 24c and cloudy for the 300km drive home!

When the compressor goes, it goes suddenly.

Were you experiencing any advanced warning signs, such as the noise that I'm describing or any other issues suggesting your compressor was about to go out?

 

[willyroo]

any advanced warning signs

It seemed to draw a bit more power on engagement (so a a failing bearing?), and hot weather performance dropped off in the weeks prior to it failing.

 

[Gnarwgn]

So - I tried a 'shortcut' and added 3oz of oil to the system. Somehow this only made the issue worse. The compressor is now as loud as its ever been, and intermittently disengaging when ac is on. Also I'm getting the flashing lights between the internal/external air buttons.

So I'm going into deeper surgery. Planning to replace both the compressor and condenser while I'm at it.

Question for @outdoorsman (or anyone) - I hate getting into the passenger glove box because as previously mentioned its a PITA, and just want to better understand why it is recommended to replace the expansion valve? I don't doubt the recommendation, just need the motivation.

It also is recommended when replacing the compressor to replace the expansion valve Denso 475-0508 located in the passenger side behind the glove box. It is a kind of a PITA to get to.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...s=475-0508&dpPl=1&dpID=31TAVVHC33L&ref=plSrch

Last question - what is the tried and true condenser to replace original? I assume Denso, any acceptable alternatives?

 

[Gnarwgn]

Update - ended up replacing the compressor, was making increasingly loud noises and with roadtrips on the short term horizon I had to make a power move. So here's what I did:

1. Replaced compressor - ordered OE Denso here:
Denso 471-1220 New Compressor with Clutch

2. Replaced the receiver/drier in the condenser:
Denso 478-1500 Receiver Drier

3. Pulled a vacuum on the system and recharged. Used this extremely cheap vacuum pump to do it (Harbor Freight version), and borrowed an air compressor and the manifold gauges from my neighbor (to get the extremely cheap pump to work):
Poor Man's Vacuum

4. Hit all new seals with PAG 46 and Nylog Blue:
Nylog Blue

Followed this insanely helpful video from Timmy the Tool Man for all of the above:
LX470 AC Compressor Replacement (2UZ-FE 4.7 Liter V8 Engine)

To summarize, as far as I understand compressors at this point, the clutch on my original compressor was going out. I've always noticed that the compressor was loud (for 6 years), would 'click' on and off, and would always make this grinding/spinning/unhappy sound. Then most recently - it was audibly following my RPMs from a stop through 3rd gear. I wasn't sneaking up on anybody, you could hear me coming thanks to the compressor (very similar sound to a failing alternator).

Apparently you can pull the compressor and replace just the clutch, but its not any less work so I opted to replace the entire thing. Compared to other experiences I have read about here, I think I got off easy because I was 100% sure my issue was the compressor. I also recently replaced my rear high pressure line, which was leaking and my only other known issue. If I have future issues I will get into replacing expansion valves and evaporators. Until then, enjoying a silently operating compressor and the last 4 hours of ac blowing cold again.