Noise coming from A/C compressor area

I have a '94 Lincoln TC Cartier edition that I purchased just 2 weeks ago.

Recently, I noticed a noise coming from the A/C compressor area. The A/C works great, but the heater is very weak.

This noise didn't exist until I turned on the heater, and now it's making that noise. It's kind of a clunking noise that cycles evenly. I've turned off the heater, but it still makes the noise.

Should I be concerned about this noise? It's strong enough that I can feel it through the floor, and it is very clearly coming from the A/C compressor area.

Is there a test I can do, that will verify whether if I have to have it looked at/repaired?


Thanks,
Erick

Congrats on your newly acquired Cartier!

Are you looking at the compressor clutch while hearing this noise?
I have two theories running...

might also be a misinterpreted blend door actuator problem...

Steven,


Thanks for the congrats & your reply, much appreciated. It was a good buy at $2,700 from a new car dealership. (Lincoln was a customer trade in) The car has 133k miles. Other than the clunking noise, the car is in very nice condition.

I'm looking at a silver A/C cylinder that's about 7 inches long and about 3.5 inches in diameter, (of which what I thought was called a compressor). It's located on the passenger side, next to the coolant overflow tank. That thing clunks. (Even if the A/C is off)

Strangely, today there was no clunking noise. It seems to come on and off at its own will. I forgot to mention that I did add freon into it using "Subfreeze" A/C recharger canister bought from Autozone a few days ago. The result of that recharge was, the AC is ice-cold. (It was cold before, but there is a marked improvement in the coldness.) The clunking noise sounds like something going up then crashing into the bottom of the cylinder and repeating in a cycle.

Your Cartier in your profile looks really nice. I've owned a '86 Town Car before my current TC Cartier, and I am convinced that the Lincolns are the best cars ever made. (Even though I don't like Ford vehicles in general)

Cheers,
Erick

Gotcha :)

Sounds like there's a pressure imbalance or air in the system. I'm not good with AC charging but the basic mechanics of hydraulics should apply in there too.

I have a 1993/1994 FSM available through my webpage if you want one.. you can get there through my forum name.

Most of us are 2nd and 3rd generation Lincoln drivers too. There are some busier Lincoln boards if you're into that sort of thing.

Another big Welcome !!

Erick,
I am no mechanic and certainly not an A/C mechanic but I do know that the compressor is mounted on your motor and driven by the serpentine V-belt (fan belt).

In my opinion, which is never worth much, the "cylinder" you are talking of is the receiver-dryer and I know of nothing in it that would make a clunking noise and if it was in there it definitely would not do it if the A/C was off.

I'm like Towncar and suspect it is a blend door in the heater/A/C box. Put your ear down near the under side of the glove box and see if it isn't louder there. On my '95 TC that blend door has been opening and closeing for the past 20,000 miles. It does it no matter if the heater is on or off and is quite even in its "cycling".

I have no idea what that particular blend door does (I think there are several of them) but it does not make any difference to the operation of the A/C or heater. Mine only works on high speed fan and the air temp is consistent, either manual or automatic.

P.S. When my blend door first began the "clunking" - opening and closing - it did not always do it. Sometimes it would and sometimes not. Now it does it all the time even if the heater/air condioning is turned off.

Steven,

Thanks again for the welcome. :) I'm definitely into car discussion forums. Is there a good one you'd recommend for Lincoln Town Cars? This forum was the best one I could find using Google. I sent you a PM regarding the manual. Something's wrong with the file.




Stan,

You're right about the compressor being on the serpentine belt. I didn't know what to call that cylinder thing- I must have thought in my mind "condensor" and typed "compressor". My mistake. :)



Thank you both for your help. Much appreciated.

Update:

I brought the car in to a friend that specializes in household A/C's, and he said that I didn't have proper pressure in the system. (Something about gases slamming against vacuum.) So, he put in more freon and since then, the clunking has stopped.