noise from front end with AC on - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

**jimvw57** · 04-16-2012, 08:48 AM

Saturday I turned on the AC and heard a loud grumbling from the front end. I gathered it was from the AC cooling fan behind the radiator. Since I was on the way to a wedding, I just turned off the AC and no more noise.

Sunday I took a look and didn't see anything wrong, other than the broken belly pan cover, (which I fixed) and with the fan on, a lot of vibration and subsequent noise. I tried flexing the plastic to make sure it wasn't hitting anything and it isn't. Just a vibration. After running for about 1/2 hour, it seems to have settled down. Maybe just a dry bearing in the fan from not being used all winter??

Engine temp never got above 192, and usually was around 188, same as always.never noticed the noise when the temp cooling fan comes on, not that it does too often.

Any ideas??

BB Benz · 04-16-2012, 09:03 AM

Sounds like you hit an old lady who had become stuck in the grille. That makes for a lot of loud grumbling. Make sure she doesn't have an umbrella or big purse to hit you with before releasing her. Might be dangerous.

**jimvw57** · 04-16-2012, 09:07 AM

Come to think of it, she never did come out the back after I hit her...

BB Benz · 04-16-2012, 09:09 AM

Roflmao!

hihosilver · 04-16-2012, 09:17 AM

Your ac system may be low on refrigerant.

Kermit · 04-16-2012, 11:25 AM

You said what my guess would be. Sitting dormant over the winter it got a little dry. If I had to take a wild guess without seeing/hearing it that's what my blind guess is.

a2jack · 04-16-2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hihosilver

Your ac system may be low on refrigerant.

My guess too. Have it checked at an AC house. A2Jack

Brabus007 · 04-16-2012, 02:35 PM

Sounds like your going to be putting in a new Fan... You would not be the first...

**jimvw57** · 04-16-2012, 10:30 PM

My only ?? is, what drives the AC compressor? Electric?? direct drive motor or a belt? Just wondering if it could be the compressor instead of the fan. As far as I can tell, the cooling fan comes out the bottom (?)

It would be nice to have a LOCAL DEALER or service center to go to......

ca smartone · 04-16-2012, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimvw57

My only ?? is, what drives the AC compressor? Electric?? direct drive motor or a belt? Just wondering if it could be the compressor instead of the fan. As far as I can tell, the cooling fan comes out the bottom (?)

It would be nice to have a LOCAL DEALER or service center to go to......

Belt drive ..