AC makes a rattling noise when turned on.

[gabriel2012]

Kinda wierd, I was driving around and my friend called me so I turned down the radio...once I finished talking I heard a rattling noise(quiet since the ac was set to 2)

I didn't think it was the ac, just something inside making noise against one of the plastic panels or something....until I turned the thing into 4....started rattling like crazy. then I stopped and popped the hood and noticed the noise was louder.

I can describe the noise as *clack clack clack clack clack* checked the fan to see if something got stuck in there but no luck.

[CTScott]

If you don't have a cabin air filter installed then it is probably something stuck in the fan. Pull the lower passenger glove box to take a look. If you flip the AC intake knob to full recirculate you will be able to look right into the fan.

[gabriel2012]

I have a cabin air filter(replaced it a few months ago) its installed. do I try it anyways?

[gabriel2012]

air filter had some dust but when I took it out there wasn't anything inside the white circular thing that spins when the ac is on.

[CTScott]

Did you run it with that open to see if the rattle is coming from in there?

[gabriel2012]

yes I ran it, but the clicking noise can be heard louder when I pop the hood...I really hope its not the compressor my car only has 46k miles.... my highlander has 200k and I haven't had any problems with the AC :/

When I tested this out, the clicking was soft when the ac was off....getting louder and louder as I moved up to 4.

[gabriel2012]

Got it checked out at 2 a/c shops today...both found the culprit to be the compressor going bad and the noise is coming from something lose inside of it.

the first shop quoted an aftermarket compressor(new) at $1,039 installed.

the second shop quoted Aprox. $550...the compressors is around $300(rebuilt) + trading in the bad one. the labor would be around $175 + tax which would bring it up by $550 total.

The dealer quoted $2,100 for the whole job....

I need to fix it...the heat wave in Puerto Rico isn't getting any cooler.

[jekqmb]

Ya the compressor took a shit, its the clutch bearing that probably went out....

[gabriel2012]

:/ there goes my pay check... going to check out the warranty from the rebuilt one...

This sucks, I was going camping with the yaris so we could save gas on the 2hour trip...gotta get there on the old highlander now :/