Hello Everyone,

I was travelling on the highway as my A/C stopped blowing cold air and began to immediately hear I light clunk or something loose rattling as the engine was running. Can anyone help me to identify this issue? I'm not sure if it's a belt problem or not. Thanks very much for the assistance!

Cheers,

 

I would guess a broken compressor clutch.

If the belt were off you would not have charging or engine cooling. I'd open the hood and inspect what's happening over on the passenger side.

Does it make the noise with the A/C switched off?

If the noise stops with the A/C switched off I'd be willing to drive it. If it keeps clunking, then something is likely to come apart, perhaps causing more damage.

If the belt comes off all sorts of lights will come on, without engine cooling (water pump has nothing to drive it) you cannot drive the car any distance. Stop immediately, turn off the engine and call for assistance. Trying to drive it will damage the engine in less than a mile.

 

A friend of mine had a pulley nearly fall out... Enough to cause clunking, not enough to throw CEL or cause issues. One look under the hood quickly revealed a loose pulley that was cockeyed yet the belt somehow stayed on and kept spinning. Tightened it down and all was good. Hopefully it's something simply like that and not something like a broken compressor. Best of luck.

 

1, Raise the hood,

2. Start the car with AC off

3. Listen for the sound.

4. Observe the belt and pulleys.

5. If there is no sound or obvious mechanical issue with the belt and pulleys, turn on the AC.

6. Listen and observe again.

 

1, Raise the hood,

2. Observe the belt and pulleys.

3. Start the car with AC off

4. Listen for the sound.

5. If there is no sound or obvious mechanical issue with the belt and pulleys, turn on the AC.

6. Listen and observe again.

 

If anybody else is experiencing AC loss and is not related to the clutch fan then it could be the AC compressor relay. I diagnosed and fixed this very problem with my 2010 Sport. The relay is located underneath the driver's side headlight and costs about $50 at your local auto parts store. Expensive but worth it if you like to be cool!

 

Thanks everyone for all the help! These are all great suggestions and I'll look into every recommendation. Really appreciate it! I'll update this thread with the outcome. Cheers everyone!

 

Here's the update to my problem! The mechanic found that the issue was a broken Coil on the A/C Pump. Hope this will help anyone else who is experiencing this problem. Thanks everyone for all the help!

Cheers!

 

I just had an estimate done on getting my ac repaired on my 2009 and they have to replace 3 items. The compressor, the ac receiver driver, and the belt which works the alternator, water pump & ac pully. Not cheap!! My ac hasn't worked for 3 years (the warm air issue). I guess don't leave it - it ends up being costly!

 

mine did that a year or 2 ago, and it just blew out hot air!! i was just about to just pay up and get a new one, but then out of no where driving on the highway and really revving the crap out of it.. it somehow fixed itself and started blowing cold air again... its been over a year now and its been running great with no problems.