new bad noise
 

just when I thought I was getting the car pretty sorted out... started making a new, alarming noise. Whenever the A/C is on and the engine is at idle, I hear a noise that sounds an awful lot like a couple bolts rattling around in a coffee can. Can this be anything other than the A/C compressor or clutch? the A/C still works OK and the noise goes away immediately when I shut the A/C off.

How much $$$ am I looking at to repair? (hate to ask...)

nate

Your clutch on your compressor is siezing up. and\or your compressor is tearing itself apart.

get a 12mm wrench on a socket and try to turn the compressor over - you should be able to hear the noise and\or feel resistance.

Either way, the parts are rather expensive.

AFJuvat

also check your radiator fans, one could be locking up or there is something hitting them. They both come on when the AC is on.

It could be the heat shield under the exhaust manifold. The shield can break close to the mounting points and cause it to rattle. Don't ask how I knew!

Sorry to hijack ....but mine is starting to do the same........ can see some metal fillings...

Hard to believe I would want to turn it on with 50 degree weather......

No solution but a new compressor I take it. :(

I know that this is a rather old post, but i have ran into the same problem.... It seems that the heat shield near the manifold has broke loose. I havent had the time to get in and pull it out to see exactly what is going on, but do know that it is indeed loose. It makes one hell of a rattle when the engine is started. When i do get the time, should i try to repair the shield... or would i be fine just pulling it out ?

This is a real pita to remove.
I had to break it into half by unbolting the two M6 hex bolts holding the two together from under the car.
Then remove the shields from the block with those two M6 allen socket head bolts. Another pita.
Then try to get one section out through the manifold and the other one through the oil filter section with the oil filter removed.

I managed to weld the broken tabs using a mig welder.
Then go through another session of difficult maneuvering to install. :confused:

Good luck and have a lot of patience

So would it be a bad idea to remove them... and not reinstall ?

Yes, it would be a bad idea to remove it.
It shields the heater hose, heater valve, balance shaft seals and the passenger side engine mount in a way from exhaust heat.
That's why I fixed it and put it back.