air conditioner problem

**brokendan** · 10-24-2008, 10:04 PM

ok so recently my air conditioner started making a clicking noise... about like the sound you would get if you stuck a stick in a fan or bike wheel. or if you ever put a card on your bicycle wheel when you were a kid? heh yea tht sound. well im not sure how long it did it before i actually noticed the sound but it has now stopped blowing cold air and the clicking sound has stopped. the fan still blows. so i guess my question is... am i out of freon.. is there a way for me to check if i am out of freon? or is it something more mechanical. any input you can give me would be of great use.

edit: oh yea. i have a 01 silverado 1500 4.8L if tht helps any.

**henrys021500hd** · 10-25-2008, 08:36 AM

My A/C stopped working last month and all that is happening is the clutch goes on and off quickly so it is going to the dealer soon for the end of warranty work, which I hope they will cover, Henry.

**brokendan** · 10-25-2008, 03:21 PM

ok yea i might have to bring mine to the dealer as well... was trying to avoid tht lol

**Jazbo** · 10-25-2008, 10:34 PM

There is a sensor located on the AC unit on the firewall. It has a lead wire into it. I had this problem and a freind who has the same truck showed it to me. BUT, if you take this out it WILL empty the feon out and system witll need to be re-charged. All this can be purcased at your local parts store (I use Autozone) along with a gauge to check the pressure in the sytem, I'd check pressure 1st then the sensor.

**vncj96** · 10-26-2008, 01:14 PM

DO NOT EMPTY THE FREON OUT!!!!!!!!!! That is also the lubricant for your AC compressor you could burn up the clutch in the bearing and then it will lock up and burn your belt off and then you will be stuck!!! It sounds like the clutch or bearing is already shot if not the whole compressor, get it replaced ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!

**Crawdaddy** · 10-26-2008, 01:34 PM

This is going to sound off the wall, but did you have any loose papers or plastic bags sitting in the passenger footwell recently? My uncle once had a sound like this in his caravan and it turns out that the blower sucked a grocery bag up into the blower housing. Pretty easy fix. I don't think it's your freon or compressor. You'd probably know what that would sound like.

**Jazbo** · 10-27-2008, 12:00 AM

I did not mean to say EMPTY AC unit and NOT re-charge it, of course you should re-charge it, I would also add a sm can of AC conditioner 1st before adding the freon. All this and adapters to do-it yourself are sold at just about any Auto parts store. sheeesh.

**brokendan** · 10-27-2008, 02:29 AM

wow thanks for all the responses guys. ok so jazbo it was making the same clicking noise?

**vncj96** · 10-27-2008, 10:40 AM

You should be able to go to a good auto salvage and get a warrantied used compressor for about $75 bucks and a can of freon is under $20, thats what i did and have not had a problem in four years and I use my AC everyday in the summer

**Jazbo** · 10-27-2008, 01:05 PM

Yes, this sensor was causing the compressor to click on and off repeatedly in a short amount of time. Can't remember what the sensor was called though, when my wife brings back my digital camara back from work I'll snap a photo for ya and post it here.