Climate whine....

[IT_S8]

Love my new S8 - The only niggle I have in an otherwise perfect car is a small whining noise from the climate. I think this may have been the same thing Atomic was talking about in an earlier thread. Climate all works perfectly, its just a small annoying noise that is drowned out easily by the stereo etc, but i'd like to fix it...

Most noticable around 1500 RPM, definitely engine speed related. Goes off completely if you turn off the climate, or if you just put it in economy mode...

Is is therefore likely to be the A/C compressor - bearings or something ?

Has any one any experience of this, or any idea off the top of their head on how big a job / cost it would be?

[Atomic]

A few including myself have mention it. From what I've read the only thing that changes when you hit the climate button is that the compressor clutch is engaged.

I was going to try getting the system recharged after reading simular issues on VW and Ford (who use the same compressors apparently...) forums.

Now some bad news... it does get coniderably worse :|

[10bellys]

I had a fairly noticeble noise when the A/C was switched on then it would stop after 5 -10 mins after having the car about a month it stopped altogether and 12 months on hasn't returned! Was your S8 in constant use before you got it? mine was on a forecourt for a while! Not sure this helps!!!

[996Dean]

I get an intermitent whine from my aircon which isn't speed related. I've had an aircon specialist and my usual garage look at it without success.

When I go around a right hander is vanishes!

I think it may be a bearing. Let me know what you find.

cheers

[jaimiebrown]

Exactly the same noise on mine with the aircon engaged and, to begin with, I thought it was a PAS pump issue since it disappears round a right-hand bend! At least it's not the dreaded gearbox problem but since mine's just clocked 60k perhaps I'll get it changed anyhow. Let me know if it can simply be greased-up..!

[jaimiebrown]

Had the ATF and filters changed today at GCS in Horsham; seem like a really good bunch and I'd recommend them to anybody near Gatwick.

Also, got them to check out the Climate Whine. They re-gassed the system, which may have a leak, since it only had half (400g) of the necessary (800g) refrigerant in and took it for a test run. Sure enough they heard the whine as you describe it and apparently "bent some pipes around"; where or how I was not told! They say that they've reduced the noise by about 50% but that doing any more would probably require removing the dash etc. so I'll see how I get on with it for now.

I'm certainly expecting to be a hell of a lot colder since the aircon seemed to be working fine before the re-gas!

Did you have any joy with your climate whine investigations?

[IT_S8]

[ QUOTE ]

Did you have any joy with your climate whine investigations?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sort of.... I took it my local stealers, whom I have the highest possible regard for, and they concluded it is the A/C compressor itself.... Which if I'm honest, I'd already concluded myself.

£600 part + vat + fitting (whole front end off)... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/SAUER0421.GIF[/img]

... but currently having cambelt done also, so they've agreed to fit it for the price of a quick regas afterwards, which helps a lot..

Lets hope it cures it.... The problem with a silent executive motor is that little noises and whines really show up !!

[jaimiebrown]

So. Did it cure the whine?