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air con pump front plate rattle-SOLVED-I THINK
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:50 pm
by deanthedude1977
Hi all
Just recently ive noticed a like metallic ting noise at idle when the car is cold...it seems to go once warm (certainly 90% gone)
On further investigation found its coming from the plate on the aircon pump pulley--the plate seems fairly loose??
Any ideas here?--is it new pulley time on the aircon pump or can i just tighten the centre nut(it doesnt seem loose though?)
Im guessing wont damage anything but is annoying hearing it.
Dont think the aircon is working anyway cant hear a clicking of relay or engine speed change when turning on although i dont think this would be related?
Not overly worried about not having aircon--i know it wont engage clutch if low on gas etc
car is 2003 2.0hdi 110
Any help appreciated
Deano

Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:56 pm
by lozz
does it rattle with the air-con switched off ?
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:58 pm
by deanthedude1977
yeh on or off i dont think clutch engaging anyway--its a plate attached to pulley--as its loose and the belt turns the pulley it rattles--more annoying then anything??
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:01 pm
by jonsowman
Yeah sounds like the clutch plate, it won't engage if the pressure in the system is too low so the on/off switch is doing nothing.
It's the plate rattling against the pulley - mine does the same, but shuts up if the air-con is engaged.
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:05 pm
by lozz
spray some wd40 or 3 in 1 oil on the plate, (thus avoiding getting it on the aux belt)
Might quieten it up abeit
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:20 am
by deanthedude1977
lozz wrote:spray some wd40 or 3 in 1 oil on the plate, (thus avoiding getting it on the aux belt)
Might quieten it up abeit
yep that quietened it thanks...not sure for how long???

Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:18 am
by deanthedude1977
deanthedude1977 wrote:lozz wrote:spray some wd40 or 3 in 1 oil on the plate, (thus avoiding getting it on the aux belt)
Might quieten it up abeit
yep that quietened it thanks...not sure for how long???

i have just booked it in for aircon recharge with kwik fit this sat--£29 pound--will let you know how it goes...
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:43 am
by Welly
deanthedude1977 wrote:
yep that quietened it thanks...not sure for how long???

Probably a day or so in my experience
deanthedude1977 wrote:i have just booked it in for aircon recharge with kwik fit this sat--£29 pound--will let you know how it goes...
I can tell you now if you like, the condenser will be rotten at the bottom and/or the pipework has corroded at a bracket position. All to common on here I'm afraid. A new condenser replacement would be £300.00 at a garage or about £180.00 ish if you fit it yourself and then get it regassed.
Occasionally it might be an electrical fault stopping the a/c from working but mostly it's a gas leak.
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:49 am
by Doggy
Welly wrote:I can tell you now if you like, the condenser will be rotten at the bottom and/or the pipework has corroded at a bracket position. All to common on here I'm afraid. A new condenser replacement would be £300.00 at a garage or about £180.00 ish if you fit it yourself and then get it regassed.
Likely, but not always. My bro's still has gas, but seems to have a short circuit clutch solenoid, (we're waiting to see if it 'gets better').

Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:57 am
by deanthedude1977
Update--my missus is going into town later near a kwik fit--shes phoned them and they will fit it in today at 10.30 so will let you know results.
hopefully they wont charge if obvious leak..
As i said aint too worried if it works or not but for £29 green queens thought worth a go---still not sure what the rattling plate on the pulley is tho--someone said it was the clutch of pump??
It did get quieter with the spray whatever it was--not sure how to fix tho if rattle comes back?
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:14 pm
by deanthedude1977
deanthedude1977 wrote:Update--my missus is going into town later near a kwik fit--shes phoned them and they will fit it in today at 10.30 so will let you know results.
hopefully they wont charge if obvious leak..
As i said aint too worried if it works or not but for £29 green queens thought worth a go---still not sure what the rattling plate on the pulley is tho--someone said it was the clutch of pump??
It did get quieter with the spray whatever it was--not sure how to fix tho if rattle comes back?
Well shes home --just phoned--they didnt report any leaks to her and showed her it all working etc
so hopefully £29 pound well spend--???
I will know more when i get home from work and look myself--
i will see if the plates still jumps about and rattles with aircon on now i know the clutch should engage??
Can anyone confirm if the plate on outside edge of aircon pulley is the clutch plate though as someone did suggest it might be??
And does it matter if it is rattling a bit--i dont want it to fall off or seize up n throw the belt--
Thanks for all your help with this so far..
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:24 pm
by lozz
it carnt fall off,
you normaly get a Gratey noise off the plate, if theres abuild up of rust
or a noisey bearing, never seen one fall off,
Ive seen them lock up but you wouid get warning sighns before hand, Smoke or Scream off the belt,
Let the compressor have a good run and see how you go,

Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:29 pm
by deanthedude1977
lozz wrote:it carnt fall off,
you normaly get a Gratey noise off the plate, if theres abuild up of rust
or a noisey bearing, never seen one fall off,
Ive seen them lock up but you wouid get warning sighns before hand, Smoke or Scream off the belt,
Let the compressor have a good run and see how you go,

ok will do thanks--cant seem to find just pulleys for the aircon for sale so id does get bad guess i need whole unit?
Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:35 pm
by lozz
Cheaper to get a full compressor if needs be,
Ive tried re-building them in the past and gave up
you need pullers,and special tools to get the clutch off - there not easy to get off,
Have alook at some of the Videos on Youtube,
something like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqFd3KkSRY
icarnt find a sanden compressor on the tube

Re: air con pump front plate rattle.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:19 pm
by deanthedude1977
yeah thats what i was thinking--they look cheap enough on ebay as whole units.
guess would need to be re gassed?? ah well only £29.00--i will leave for now and see how it goes
thanks again