A/C noisy?

Tiny
BAT KID
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,000 MILES
Whenever the A/C or defroster is on and the transmission idling in drive it makes a loud chirping. When I'm driving it's quiet but when I come to a stop and it idles it chirps bad. If you put it in park and the A/C or defroster is on its quiet. Being the a compressor engaged I figured the tensioner wasn't strong enough to handle the load so I replaced the belt tensioner and the chirp still exists. So, when it's in drive and idling and the air on is the only time it acts up. If you rev it up it goes away or if you turn the A/C off, it stops. Would you expect a component of the A/C compressor is failing? Also, the belt was replaced 10,000 miles ago when I changed the timing belt. I'm just confused as to why it happens only in drive with the air on and in park with the air on its quiet.
Saturday, September 17th, 2022 AT 11:05 AM

23 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Is it possible for you to record and upload it for me to hear? I realize the belt isn't old, but what you described sounds like a belt noise. The A/C compressor places a heavy load on the belt. Also, when the defroster is on, the compressor engages.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, September 17th, 2022 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
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At the 22 second mark you can hear the belt chirp and also a rattling noise as well. Like I said, it only does it when I come to a stop. I can sit in park and it's fine or driving its fine it's only when I'm at a complete stop in drive. In the 2nd video I have it in drive and foot on the brake and just tapping the gas I can make it do that noise.
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 6:25 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

For some reason, I don't have the time stamp at the bottom of the video. I did listen to both videos several times but didn't hear a chirping noise. I do hear something that sounds like it's vibrating.

If you have a helper start it and place it in gear, open the hood and see if it is louder and upload it for me to hear.

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
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In this video you can really hear it and you can see the tensioner moving. I replaced the belt 15,000 miles ago and the tensioner was replaced a few months ago. Both are Ac Delco parts and I changed the tensioner because I figured it wasn't strong enough to hold tension under the load of the compressor when it was engaged but the new tensioner didn't solve the issue. I'm not sure if the Ac Delco design isn't good enough? These 1.8 tensioners are different than the 1.4 turbo tensioners.
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Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
BAT KID
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In this video you can hear it happen in reverse or drive but not in park or neutral.
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Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 AT 11:39 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

It sounds like the belt. Try this. When it is making the noise, pour a small amount of water on the belt and see if it stops or changes.

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
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Alright I sprayed the belt with water and there was no change but I had my wife help me and with the ac on and in drive you can in this video I'm attaching the belt starts to vibrate like crazy and the chirp is the belt because it vibrates due to lack of full tension when it's under the load of the compressor. I changed the tensioner 4,000 miles ago with the ACDelco OEM tensioner. In the video when it starts chirping bad you can see the belt vibrating like its losing tension.
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
BAT KID
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Here's the video:
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 3:01 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

It could be the belt, the tensioner, or the compressor. Has anyone added Freon to it recently? If it is overcharged, this can happen. However, I did notice the belt tensioner in an earlier video you sent jumping around. Also, is this the correct one for the vehicle? The OEM part number should be 25191534.

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
BAT KID
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No, I have never added Freon to it for the years I've owned it and yes, the tensioner is jumping but it's just strange how I changed the tensioner and that never fixed the issue it still had the same problem. Yes, that part number is the tensioner I installed.
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 4:26 PM
Tiny
BAT KID
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With the car running and A/C on I pull the oil dipstick out and I hear a hissing in the back of the engine and then it triggers the engine to struggle and the chirping. With the A/C off and dipstick pulled it'll do the same hiss and engine hesitation but no belt chirp. I don't know if that means anything more or just shows that's a load on the engine like a compressor creates.
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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This keeps getting more and more interesting. Is the PCV in good condition? I'm going to ask the site owner for his input. He is excellent with A/C, and since that is where we started, I want to see what he says.

Take care,

Joe
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 7:19 PM
Tiny
BAT KID
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I haven't checked the PCV valve so I'm not sure, but I can say I haven't had any issues other than this A/C issue and alright sounds good. Thank you
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

I suggested the PCV because when you remove the dipstick, the sound returned. It seems like that is lowering the RPMs and causing the noise. It's just a theory. When you remove the dipstick, it is allowing fresh air to enter the crankcase. With the dipstick removed, is there a strong vacuum at the dipstick tube?

Joe
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Thursday, July 13th, 2023 AT 9:48 PM
Tiny
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Makes sense and yes, I pulled the dipstick and put my finger over the hole and felt suction on my finger.
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Friday, July 14th, 2023 AT 4:14 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, this happens when the valve cover needs to be replaced because the crankcase ventilation diaphragm has gone bad and creates an internal vacuum leak inside the engine. Here is how the job is done to fix the problem. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.
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Friday, July 14th, 2023 AT 9:09 AM
Tiny
BAT KID
  • MEMBER
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I know the 1.4turbo is known for the valve cover diaphragms going bad but didn't think the 1.8 would have that issue but if that diaphragm went bad in my valve cover, then would the issue happen all the time vs only when the A/C or defrost is on? I replaced the valve cover and gasket the end of April 2020 because there was an oil leak from the gasket and I used GM parts.
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Friday, July 14th, 2023 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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The problems you are having are the same as a car we had in the shop, when you replaced the valve cover did it have the diaphragm in it? You may have a defective unit.
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Saturday, July 15th, 2023 AT 10:17 AM
Tiny
BAT KID
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I'm not sure it was 3 years ago but I'll buy a new cover and let you know how I make out. Thank you to both of you for your help so far in this issue, I appreciate it.
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Saturday, July 15th, 2023 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
BAT KID
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I just installed the new valve cover GM #55564395(new part #96889998), and the issue still exists unfortunately. I am attaching 2 videos.
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Wednesday, July 19th, 2023 AT 4:39 PM

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