Whats the deal with the a/c compressor?

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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 08:09 AM
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Whats the deal with the a/c compressor?

I know people have said this is normal, but i am getting to the point where I think its not normal anymore. I am of course speaking of the hissing noise of the a/c compressor letting out air or whatever it is. In my car it is really loud and it happened like once every 2 to 3 minutes this morning. I guess it does it everytime the a/c goes on or off depending on what temperture you have the climate control set to. Its really lound and sounds really shitty in a "luxury" automobile. I have never driven another car that has this annoying sound and everytime i take someone in my car they ask "what is that sound?". Is this really normal? and if it is, is there any way to minimize it? I just find it really hard to believe that they would intentionally make a car that makes that hissing sound when they could make it not make the hissing sound.
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 07:40 PM
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It does not sound normal to me. Mine makes no sound at all. I'd get it checked out. BTW looks like otherwise you've got a great car, red 6 speeder!
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 08:40 PM
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mine does make hissing sound as well, I belive its normal in Honda / Acura vehicles...
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 11:56 PM
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uhm, so some do and some dont?
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 12:35 AM
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My A/c makes a high pitched whine whenever it kicks in. it's not very loud, but it is noticeable. I'm wondering whether i should take it in under warranty...Anyone else?
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 01:51 AM
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I believe the A/C compressor is covered under the warranty, if you still have one.
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 07:49 AM
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Yes it is, but is this normal for a cl? Last time i was at the dealer they claimed its normal but i find it hard to belive that it is.
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 07:53 AM
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Don't know... I'd say it's normal. I had 2 different CL's. An auto & the 6 speed & they both made all sorts of noise with the AC on. We in FL run it almost all year so maybe we notice it more. If you have an AEM intake it will amplify the noises.

Also if you know Honda you will know that almost all Honda cars have loud AC systems.
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 07:57 AM
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If its normal then I hate this car and im getting something else. Ive had nothing but problems since i got this car 3 months ago and its only got 28k miles on it.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 08:12 AM
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So i realized it only does it when i am driving the car not when i am just standing still in it. This morning it made the sound like every 2 minutes while i was driving. I know the air is supposed to cut out at WOT but, i think it might be cutting out like 1/2 of the time i press the accelerator even though it was never WOT. Any ideas?
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 09:39 AM
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I'll pay close attention to mine today and see if I get the same thing you are talking about since we are in the same area. I've never really noticed anything before but the may be because my last car was a Civic w/ 150k and that thing made all kinds of noises. Was like driving a wind sock compared to the CL
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 09:42 AM
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mine does that same thing. It isnt really loud, though.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 10:53 AM
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What temp do you have it set at? Does the AC even get cold?
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 11:27 AM
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Its set at 72 degrees and yes it is cold.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 12:14 PM
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Is it just the hissing sounds or is the compressor turning off & on every few minutes.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 03:16 PM
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Was just out for about a 30 mins, had A/C set at 68 (outside temp 89) and didn't hear any hissing coming from the compressor and the A/C was blowing cold. If I were you I would get it checked out. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but could he have build up in the condenser that could be causing the compressor to work harder?
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 05:04 PM
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Thanks i made an appointment to at the dealership to have it checked out on tuesday. I hope they dont pull they old "thats normal"
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 08:03 PM
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Okay, I think I know what you're talking about..

When I drive my 2002 TL, with climate control on, sometimes I'll hear a "pssssssssssss" sound and sometimes, condesation will come through the vents (this is normal, has happened in all 6 of my Honda vehicles and none ever had problems with A/C)... it's not a loud noise, and it's the sound of the A/C compressor working after it's been shutoff.

Try this: Set your temp at 60 and drive around. Do you hear the noise? If you don't, then I'd say what your car is doing is entirely normal. At the min 60 and max 90 the climate control won't regulate temperature, it will just operate at full force. So if it only does it when it's 61+ then it's normal operation of the A/C compressor.

It has never bothered me because it truly isn't that loud. Do you hear it OVER the radio?
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 11:43 PM
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Yes, if i listen to the radio at normal volume, i can hear the a/c sound over the radio.
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 12:14 AM
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The sound your talking about is probably the expansion valve. My 2003 TL-S was loud but our TL-P and CL-S both have pretty quiet valves. As long as the function of the A/C is fine, it's probably normal.
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 12:53 AM
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Yeah I'm fairly certain that it is a normal function.
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 10:20 AM
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I ran my car this morning & I still say it normal. Mine does a phssssssssssssss every few minutes in the full auto mode. If I switch to non auto & left the temp at 60 the noise was gone. Is it loud? A little but I don't here it over the stereo.
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 02:58 PM
  #23  
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Well today on the way to the beach i tested it like 10 diffrent ways and came up with these conclusions:

#1 When i dont have it on auto and I change the temperture from 60 to 80, the temperture of the air coming out of the vent feels the same, cold but not ice cold.
#2 It does the hissing weather i put it on 60 and auto or 60 and not auto
#3 It doesnt seem to do it when I am at a stop light or I am stopped, only when I am driving

Either way i think something is messed up, I should definatly notice a diffrence from when I set the air to 60 or 80 even wheather i have it on auto or not.
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 04:00 PM
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How many miles on it? Have you changed the AC filters? It could be low on refrigerant. Or might be some other problem. Let us know what the dealer says.
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Old Jun 24, 2005 | 07:44 AM
  #25  
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Well i got it back yesterday and they said it was a little low on freon so they put some more in there and they put some dye through it to see if there was a leak and there wasnt. They claimed the noise is normal but it was made worse by the car being low on freon. I only drove with the air on for like 5 minitues, but it still made the noise. Maybe not as loud but it still does it so...... if it gets annoying again i guess ill take it back.
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