air conditioner sound

2005 MINI COOPER
82,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD
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SMITHLA47
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I have a 2005 Cooper with a sound coming from the air conditioner unit. Basically, when engaged and at idle, there is a noticable whine above normal engine noise. When proceeding through the gears at speed, the sound increased to a howl-as you gear down, the sound becomes less audible. If the ac is shut down duiring driving, the noise completely disappears.

Any ideas?
Jul 30, 2011 at 11:24 PM
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WRENCHTECH
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Sounds like you have a bad compressor. You need to have that verified by a competent technician.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:05 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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You could have a bad bearing in the a/c clutch remove the belt and spin the a/c pulley by hand and listen for that noise.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:08 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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I would expect it to be an internal bearing instead of pulley bearing since it disappears when the clutch is disengaged.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:12 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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If its not the outside then its the inside if you rule out the outside you know its the inside.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:24 AM
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WRENCHTECH
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Wouldn't disengaging the clutch be doing just that? Pulley still turning, noise gone.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:27 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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There would be more of a load on that outter bearing with the a/c engaged and could only make noise with the a/c on anything is possible.Iam not trying to argue with you iam just trying to help this person fix there car.
Jul 31, 2011 at 12:37 AM