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Whining noise when fan is on
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Blazemom
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May 14, 2016, 6:32 PM
Post #1 of 14
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Whining noise when fan is on
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I have a 1997 Honda Accord sedan with a 4 cyl engine. It has about 110,000 miles on it.. I recently noticed a whining noise during acceleration and it seemed to only happen when it rained. Further investigation has revealed that it happens only when the car fan is on (I.e., defroster or ac fan w/o cold air) and the sound occurs both during acceleration and when the car is in neutral. Can anyone suggest what might be causing this? Thank you.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 14, 2016, 6:42 PM
Post #2 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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Can you isolate the source of the noise? Is it under the hood, inside the cabin, and/or etc? We are not there to listen to it and can't pinpoint the source the noise.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 2:04 AM
Post #3 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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? Do you mean a noise blower motor related only? Meaning it totally quits if NOT using the blower motor for air to the interior?
If so, try a listening rod or mechanic's stethoscope to hear if it's the motor itself or if easy enough take it out and check it in hand plus rule out debris of some sort?
Noises are tough via the web by description. If you can post a video of it well that would help,
T
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Blazemom
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May 15, 2016, 2:32 AM
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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It seems like it is coming from the engine area, under the hood, not inside the cabin. It occurs when I depress the gas pedal and at first I thought it was related to the rainbut it was mysteriously stopping when I turned off the defroster and started again when I turned it on. I experimented more with different fan settings and putting the car in neutral.
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Blazemom
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May 15, 2016, 2:46 AM
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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Where would I get a listening rod or mechanics stethoscope -I've seen them mentioned before? I will try to figure out how to post a video b/c I know it's hard to describe a noise. The best way can describe the sound is that it sounds like my dad's old VW Bug from the 60s, but that probably means nothing.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 4:13 AM
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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Great guess HT! OP - the compressor for A/C is activated when A/C is requested AND defrost/defog setting on many cars so that noise would be underhood at compressor NOT in dash or interior at all.
The noise of a 60s VW air cooled engine to me would be the pecking sound they made and a compressor could make a somewhat similar sound. If you do find that's the source it's serious trouble for the compressor and important to know as if that totally failed you lose the belt off of it and other items on the belt so you can't drive it! That important if so,
T
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Blazemom
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May 15, 2016, 5:03 AM
Post #8 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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This might be a really stupid question (sorry I don't know much about cars), but my ac hasn't worked in years. I'm not using ac in my discribed problem, only defroster. In that case would ac compressor still be a potential possibility? Thanks so much for the help.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 5:25 AM
Post #9 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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Your A/C may not cool anymore but most cars/trucks with A/C enable or force compressor to engage when defrost/defog selection is requested. It does that as an attempt to dehumidify the air clearing your windshield so it would work better.
You said it's "rain" related which is a time when people might need to defog a windshield, run it and suggests as Hammer Time said it COULD be the compressor.
It's less usual to me for the compressor's bushings when engaged fail but it could somehow still engage and if not right or broken/worn out could make some pretty wild noises. You should be able to identify your compressor and watch the head of it.
It's OFF if the outer plate is still and ON when it turns at the speed of the belt - understand that?
If uncertain or confused and it is to many have it looked at but don't delay. If compressor really failed badly and still tried to work it could easily burn off the belt, throw off the belt or worse throw parts around and bust up other things - either way if it totally failed you are walking! You can't run the car like that.
A very practical fix MIGHT just be to disable the compressor if you aren't going to fix it and just let it be a functioning pulley all the time. Any decent tech should be able to help you do that properly so it doesn't harm anything NOT to have functioning A/C if you don't mind and many folks don't care it shouldn't harm anything to leave it safely inoperative.
This isn't fully diagnosed yet but now strongly a suspect of what the noise is,
T
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Blazemom
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May 15, 2016, 5:50 AM
Post #10 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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I'm not sure I could id a compressor but I bet my father could. Your reply is really helpful. I think I understand most of it but I'll show it to someone who knows more about cars to get whatever I don't. As for disabling the compressor, I've been driving without ac for years now so that's not an issue. Today is first day w/out rain in a week so I'll do more troubleshooting. The noise has only happened a few times. I thought it was rain related until I realized that it stopped when I turned off the defogger fan. Now I think rain is incidental to the issue and it is the fan being on or off. I'll see today in dry weather. Thanks for your help.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 6:07 AM
Post #11 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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The easiest way to disable the compressor is to just remove the relay. It's location is shown in the picture.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 6:12 AM
Post #12 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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It really helps for you to say you aren't sure of which item is the compressor. That's fine - not everyone is supposed to be a mechanic or savvy with it but know when something isn't right which is probably why you are here.
I'll try to post a picture of a compressor but even so having a helper inside turning on defog/defrost and off again while you watch or the other way would help.
I wont go on to suggest how to disable it as I doubt you are ready to take even that on so don't - let someone who understands how do it while you wait would be no problem.
Understand the NO A/C thing. I'm in New England and other places too it's just not always a needed thing to have and they STILL sell vehicles NEW without it at all! Homes don't all have A/C either - many just use fans.
The strong point is the part (compressor) can wreck the belt or throw off parts. That's critical! It's built into this car's way of running such that if broken just the wrong way you not only wouldn't have air conditioning you'd be walking too with a broken whole car because it isn't going to move anymore up to disastrous problems.
With it just disabled and again if it is in fact that your defog and defroster should still work fine. They do in cars that don't have A/C at all that never did.
Nothing is going to beat having someone in person help and at least identify the compressor for you and watch it as said. Then you decide who or what to do from there. At a glance of situation I'd turn off all heat and A/C and next trip to a tech that will take care of this knowing that just disabling it is enough to have the car back safe to drive without this problem,
T
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Blazemom
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May 15, 2016, 6:23 AM
Post #13 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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Understood and thank you for taking so much time to explain and post the diagram. One more question. I plan to deal with this as soon possible but meanwhile still must drive. I don't use the car to commute and only drive locally ( 5-10) minutes. Am I OK for a few days if I don't run the defroster or fan?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 15, 2016, 6:32 AM
Post #14 of 14
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Re: Whining noise when fan is on
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You won't know the answer to that question until you figure out what is making the noise and if it is mission critical. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have your vehicle checked out by your mechanic before you go. Just to be on the safe side eh?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on May 15, 2016, 6:34 AM)
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