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LOUD chirp when A/C turned on

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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 07:16 PM
  #1  
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LOUD chirp when A/C turned on

Just wondering if anyone else has this sound. When my car has been sitting in the parking lot all day, and I start driving home, the turning on the A/C creates a very loud chirping sound that can be heard inside the car with the windows closed. It only happens once, the first time I turn it on when the car has been sitting. Turning the A/C off and on again does not make any noise. Is this a belt noise, compressor noise, or what? Is this something to bring up at the dealership before warranty runs out in about 5 months?
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 08:29 PM
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tension on the belt.
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Old Jul 23, 2005 | 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by khoney
Just wondering if anyone else has this sound. When my car has been sitting in the parking lot all day, and I start driving home, the turning on the A/C creates a very loud chirping sound that can be heard inside the car with the windows closed. It only happens once, the first time I turn it on when the car has been sitting. Turning the A/C off and on again does not make any noise. Is this a belt noise, compressor noise, or what? Is this something to bring up at the dealership before warranty runs out in about 5 months?
Like Zoom says, check the belt tension. If it seems OK, the problem could be a bushing/bearing in the compressor, or something else altogether. In which case, obviously, you should get it to a dealer soonest.
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Old Jul 23, 2005 | 11:56 AM
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idler pulley?
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 10:24 AM
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I've just noticed the same distinct chirp when I first start my car up in the morning, when the AC has been left on from the previous drive. A second or two after startup I'll hear it, and only on the first cold start of the day. I was assuming it was related to the AC compressor engaging. Just another item to add to the list for the dealer to check when the car goes in for its recalls. AC works fine and car runs great, as usual.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 10:39 AM
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probably the belt tensioner has gotten loose, causing the belt to squeal.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 11:10 AM
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If tension is correct, you could try some belt dressing.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 11:34 AM
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Same thing happens to me everyday when I go to leave work, I took the car in for an oil change and some TSB's and mentioned that to them. They said this was caused by some oil pooling up in the condenser, sounds like crap to me but at least it is documented in the computer that I brought it in with this problem so if anything happens further down the road I can call BS and get them to fix it. AC works fine just that quick squel gets me.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 04:08 PM
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i just heard the same thing yesterday for the first time. it scared me cause i had left the door open, then started the car.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 05:32 PM
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my cars been doing this since new and my car before did this its whole life and one of my parents cars does this... as long as its not a prolonged squeal you'll end up replacing your belt at the same interval you'd have to without the squeal - but then again i personally don't want things replaced that don't need to and take the chance of them screwing something else up
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 05:47 PM
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thanks a lot for this thread (sarcasm) my car now does this.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 08:19 PM
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It's got to be A/C related. No one had this happen (or at least didn't feel the need to post here about it) until the weather gets hot enough for us to be using A/C constantly.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 08:35 PM
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mine started 'bout a month ago and the belt tension was a little loose. the dealership re-tensioned the belt and no more squeek.
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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 09Factor
mine started 'bout a month ago and the belt tension was a little loose. the dealership re-tensioned the belt and no more squeek.
Did you get your car back from the stealership today?
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Old Jul 26, 2005 | 07:50 AM
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Started noticing the same noise about a month ago. I was going to have the dealership check it out anyway. I figure the belt may have slackened a bit.
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Old Jul 26, 2005 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Im_DANomite
thanks a lot for this thread (sarcasm) my car now does this.
This is why I read tech threads with my sunglasses on to avoid the evil rays
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Old Jul 26, 2005 | 10:50 AM
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Seriously, try belt dressing. Even with a belt in good condition and proper tension the surface can become burnished and that reduces its grip.
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Old Jul 26, 2005 | 12:39 PM
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Yeah I got the same noise yesterday, I just figured it was the belt making a little noise no big deal. My 929 use to really scream until you floored it then the noise would go away.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 10:38 AM
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Zoom's firts response

My money is on the belt.
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 12:37 PM
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belt dressing is just that- dressing. it is not a fix. the dressing can actually dry the belt out faster causing it to fail completly sooner
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Old Aug 1, 2005 | 01:06 PM
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Mine too has been doing this since I bought it. We figured out this weekend that it was A/C related. The first time I heard it, the thought ran through my head that it was a metal on metal scrape. Just one more thing for Mazda's monkeys to look at. Fun.
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