I think there may be a trread for this already but could not find it, so it we go. My compressor at times is really noisy, just wondering if this is normal for the HHR? It seems to be after runnning it for a long time when I come to a stop, I can here it over the radio and engine. It seems to work great, just noisy at times.

I can only speak for mine - it's not noisy at all.

are you sure it's your a/c making the noise? could be your fan.

Whats A/C? Only 25 degrees Sun Morn in NW Wisconsin.

Now in Texas its 92 with 93% Humidity... Where is My HHR when I need it?

My fan is noisy when I get to hear it..

That is true, it could be the fan. BamaHHR, do you here the fan? I will have to let it sit and have the fan kick on an see.
Thanks

My fan has been noisy when it's damp or rainy. I don't know about A/C. I rarely use it, and haven't had a chance in the HHR. Now if you want to talk heaters.......:lol:

BamaHHR, do you here the fan?

I haven't noticed it. I'll pay close attention tomorrow and let you know for sure.

Thanks for all your imput, I notice more noise when eather the compressor or fan kick in, but haven't gotten under the hood to lissen.

I paid attention on the way home (a/c on and no music) and heard nothing. Sorry!

I think there may be a trread for this already but could not find it, so it we go. My compressor at times is really noisy, just wondering if this is normal for the HHR? It seems to be after runnning it for a long time when I come to a stop, I can here it over the radio and engine. It seems to work great, just noisy at times.

Yes, it's most likely your compressor. I've already had mine replaced once and the new one can still be heard (it was loud). It's not as loud as the original but I still hear it whining. According to the dealer, GM knows about the noisy compressors and have decided having a little bit of a whine is acceptable and this applies to everything using this model compressor which includes the HHR, Cobalt, Saturn, and Aveo. I've been in others where it can be heard (like mine), and others that are completely quiet. Although GM won't let the dealer replace mine again (because it has an acceptable noise level) the service tech did make a notation in my file and assures me that he'll keep track of other complaints and they'll replace it again at some point.

I can only speak for mine, as well, but my A/C works fine, no noise at all. This is both with the circulate on and off; cools down way better than my last vehicle (Dodge Ram Crew Cab - but then again, Dodge has never had very good air conditioners - believe me, I know, I've owned 5!)

Anyway, here in Phoenix, we've been hittin' over 100 the past two weeks, and the A/C in the HHR works just fine - PHEW! :cool:

I can only speak for mine, as well, but my A/C works fine, no noise at all. This is both with the circulate on and off; cools down way better than my last vehicle (Dodge Ram Crew Cab - but then again, Dodge has never had very good air conditioners - believe me, I know, I've owned 5!)

Anyway, here in Phoenix, we've been hittin' over 100 the past two weeks, and the A/C in the HHR works just fine - PHEW! :cool:


Yeah, but it's a dry heat. :lol: Hate it when people say that. :roll:

I think there may be a trread for this already but could not find it, so it we go. My compressor at times is really noisy, just wondering if this is normal for the HHR? It seems to be after runnning it for a long time when I come to a stop, I can here it over the radio and engine. It seems to work great, just noisy at times.


I'm not touching this one...

:smile:

I'm not touching this one...

:smile:

Right there with you, my bretHHRen........ :lol: :p: :eek: :roll:

Yeah, but it's a dry heat. :lol: Hate it when people say that. :roll:

Yes, it IS a dry heat, indeed - but I don't care who says what - a few years ago, we hit 122 (yes, degrees, and yes, Fahrenheit!) - the airport shut down because most aviation companies only guarantee their stuff up to 121 degrees (or is it 122? Can't remember for sure) Anyway, when it gets up to 122, no one's using the stupid "but it's a dry heat" routine - it's just plain damn hot! :red:

Thanks for all your imput, I notice more noise when eather the compressor or fan kick in, but haven't gotten under the hood to lissen.
My Wife always drives The HHR, But the last couple of times I've been with her I've noticed a whining noise from somewhere when she's accelerating. This is with the Air on. I mentioned this to the Service Adviser when we were there today concerning the sun visor problem. He has an HHR himself, and he says it's the Air Conditioner, and has the same noise with his! Go figure!!

Yep, Got it. It's a wine (growl) that i've heard on many cars when the A/C Compressor
is on. How can you tell? At a stoplight you can hear a wine (growl) noise coming from the front. The best way to tell is to go to the left side of the control, feet, face and turn the A/C on with the button. When off you can't hear anything, but turning it on, a slight wine(growl) developes. Also, when the compressor is running in the defrost mode, I can hear mine. This is why I wish GM would let the driver decide when or if the compressor is on. I heard at one time the reason GM has the compressor on when on defrost was to keep the freon circulating even in cold weather to keep the hoses from getting dry and freon leaking. Whenever the compressor is running there is oil circulating in the system as well as freon. This is supposed to keep down A/C problems and repairs.:nuts:

I heard at one time the reason GM has the compressor on when on defrost was to keep the freon circulating even in cold weather to keep the hoses from getting dry and freon leaking. Whenever the compressor is running there is oil circulating in the system as well as freon. This is supposed to keep down A/C problems and repairs.:nuts:

Actually the reason the compressor runs during defrost is because dry air defrosts better then moist air. An air conditioner doesn't actually cool the air, it removes moisture, the byproduct of this action is cooler air.

Although keeping the seals, hoses, ect. from drying out for lack of use isn't the primary intent of running the A/C compressor during defrost, this like metioned above is a byproduct (bonus) of the former.

Your 100% correct in the fact that running the A/C during winter months keeps the system in tip top shape.

The auto industry knowing that the drier air defrosts better than moist air got a big bonus by having the A/C compressor run in defrost. This bonus is less A/C repairs under warranty. Of course, this action like most others also comes with a byproduct. And this would be less A/C repairs for the indusrty in general.

Good for you and I, bad for the repair shops.

It was 64 degrees here in NW Wis and got to use my a/c it and the fan were quiet.

If it is not in the 50's here we use a/c..:roll: :p:

Well, the loud whirring sound just started happening to me this afternoon on the way back to work from lunch. I guess I'll be heading to the dealer this weekend. CRAP!

This thread should be moved - it is not a "How-to."

Just trying to keep things simple for new members...

Unless it's a "How-to Hijack a Thread" How-to...:D

Took my HHR to the dealer yesterday. They ordered the A/C hoses addressed in the TSB about the A/C noise. Sure enough, A/C's nice and quiet now, the growling has left the building.

There is a bulletin for A/C noise that involves replacing the condensor and a line with revised parts. I am a Chevrolet mechanic, and I plan to do this to my wife's HHR when it comes in for it's first oil change.

Mine is kinda loud too. I think I'll have the Dealer take a look at it. It seems too loud to me. I notice a big change in performance with it on also.:(

Who has had the TSB done? Does it really solve the noise problem? I'm starting to notice mine and it's annoying.

Took my 2LT in today for the AC fix per the TSB. The service dept knew I was coming from the day I test drove and said yes to the sales person. I provided them with the TSB number(s) since at about 75miles, the AC started 'growling". Guess what - When the Tech got into it today, he found that he had failed to check the TSBs so he did not notice that the TSB had been updated. I am now driving a loaner waiting for the clip to come in.
I am so impressed. But We love he HHR!!

Who has had the TSB done? Does it really solve the noise problem? I'm starting to notice mine and it's annoying.

I took mine in with the TSB number and it fixed the problem. No growl at all now.

Who has had the TSB done? Does it really solve the noise problem? I'm starting to notice mine and it's annoying.

Took mine in and they did the TSB, everything is cool now....literally :smile:

Thanks. I think I'll try and get mine in next week.
I wonder if dealerships normally stock the parts, or if this will be a 2-trip fix???

Thanks. I think I'll try and get mine in next week.
I wonder if dealerships normally stock the parts, or if this will be a 2-trip fix???
I would call your dealership first and make an appointment. These parts aren't usually stocked and takes a day to get them in. My first trip in they found metal in my compressor oil so they replaced it (the compressor) and flushed out the system. After that it was much quieter but still made the whining / growling noise a little. 2nd trip in was after they published the TSB so they replaced the components and that quieted everything down. Now it all works great. -Dan

Thanks. I think I'll try and get mine in next week.
I wonder if dealerships normally stock the parts, or if this will be a 2-trip fix???

Mine was a two trip fix as well. Only took a week or so to get the parts in.

Just got back from picking up the HRR after the A/C TSB fix.. Wow - nice and quite just like it should be!!

Mine was a two trip fix as well. Only took a week or so to get the parts in.


:cool: You would think the dealers would keep a couple of these repair kits, or whatever, on hand since this noisy A/C compressor seems to be a recurring problem to some of us. If I was the one driving the HHR that "Whine" would really bug me !!:thumbsdow But, my Wife says it doesn't bother her.:confused: So, whatta ya gonna do?:roll:

I've had my HHR since May and noticed the same growling noise when you turn on the AC. During a recent trip to Las Vegas when it was 115 degrees it started making a really loud whining noise any time the AC was on. If I turned the AC off the noise went away. It did it when I first started the car in the morning and then after the car heated up. After we returned from Vegas the whining noise stopped, but still have the growling noise. I took it to the dealer today to see what is going on.

I've had my HHR since May and noticed the same growling noise when you turn on the AC. During a recent trip to Las Vegas when it was 115 degrees it started making a really loud whining noise any time the AC was on. If I turned the AC off the noise went away. It did it when I first started the car in the morning and then after the car heated up. After we returned from Vegas the whining noise stopped, but still have the growling noise. I took it to the dealer today to see what is going on.

Sounds like the A/C lines. There is a TSB on this noise HERE (http://www.alldata.com/tsb/General-Motors/1148540400000_1149750000000_06-01-38-004/41.html); the cure is to replace the lines. Print out the TSB and take it to your dealer. I had mine done and it is very quiet now.
The dealer will have to order them, so your best bet is to go down and have them write it up, then they will order the parts and call you when they come in.

Best of luck,

my ac howled fro the git go and has been driving me crazy!
thank for theTSB and help findint it I wiil go in this week
Thanks

I brought mine in two weeks ago. They told me that the parts were on national backorder and they would call when the parts came in.

Ok i printed off the TSB...So what do i do as far as calling them...I mean i just call them and say hey the ac is making wierd noise and this is what you need to replace...??? What is a TSB anyways..???

Ok i printed off the TSB...So what do i do as far as calling them...I mean i just call them and say hey the ac is making wierd noise and this is what you need to replace...??? What is a TSB anyways..???
I printed it out, brought it to the service department and said "My AC is making noise, and I believe this is the fix". They told me they'd look at it and let me know. They ordered the parts for me, now I'm just waiting for them.

BTW: My service department appreciated me bringing in the TSB. I felt a little weird at first, and didn't want them to think I was doing their job, but it was helpful to them.

BTW: My service department appreciated me bringing in the TSB. I felt a little weird at first, and didn't want them to think I was doing their job, but it was helpful to them.

I would have absolutely no hesitation bring a copy of a TSB in. Better they think I am doing their job than a whole bunch of inconvenient trips....

:smile: Back in July we took the HHR to the Dealer to check out why the A/C didn't seem to be draining any condensate. I also wanted them to check out the whining noise. Well, they answered the "Non-Peeing" problem (I guess?), but they didn't do anything about the noise. In fact the Service Advisor said he didn't hear anything when he took the car out into the repair area. So nothing more was done about it. Well last Friday I actually got to drive the HHR up to the muffler shop. It was the first time I drove it since we bought it a year ago!! Anyway, the A/C was definitely making noise and as soon as I shut it off the noise was gone! So, I'm going to make sure this guy gets the parts ordered, whether he hears it or not!
My Wife says the noise doesn't bother her :confused: , and she's the one that uses it, but it bothers me 'cause I know it shouldn't be doing it!:eek:
What I don't understand is, "How do these particular parts cause the whining/growling noise in the first place:confused:"

I printed it out, brought it to the service department and said "My AC is making noise, and I believe this is the fix". They told me they'd look at it and let me know. They ordered the parts for me, now I'm just waiting for them.

BTW: My service department appreciated me bringing in the TSB. I felt a little weird at first, and didn't want them to think I was doing their job, but it was helpful to them.

I felt the same way, but in the end my service dept. was also happy I had the TSB.