Rattle from air con pump

[chatteris]

My 1998 c240 has started to make a rattling noise that seems to be coming from the air con pump, if I try to move the front of the pump I can feel a slight movement.
Is this likely to be a bearing problem? is it safe to use the car? mileage is only around 94000 do the air con pumps only last this long or is it something else?

 

[rpe2]

50p says it's the Water pump.

I did my father-in-law's recently.

Hold the fan and rock gently, if there is play, the chances are it's the water pump (much cheaper than an a/c compressor).

 

[Vlad]

My 1998 c240 has started to make a rattling noise that seems to be coming from the air con pump, if I try to move the front of the pump I can feel a slight movement.
Is this likely to be a bearing problem? is it safe to use the car? mileage is only around 94000 do the air con pumps only last this long or is it something else?

The sound you describe sounds like the clutch on the front of the air-con compressor is on its way out....its normally a death rattle I'm afraid. My local air con man tells me to get anymore than 7 years out of an air con compressor is doing well.

To check that it is the compressor, the sound should go when you switch of the A/C and if you look at the front of the compressor the clutch will stop spinning.

 

[W L Ow]

The compressor is probably partially or totally seized up. You can check it by turning the compressor pully by hand with the engine and air con turned off. If the pully can turn easily, it is not seized up. If it cannot be turned, it is likely that the compressor have to be replaced. Make sure you replace the dryer (bottle shaped) next to the compressor and the expansion valve (somewhere below the wiper arm motor).

 

[Dunhamkid]

I had a similar problem, thought the noise came from compressor but in fact it was the belt tensioner rattleing and the noise was transmitted by the timing cover. Replaced tensioner problem solved!

 

[Andy W]

The squeal on my C180 was a faulty water pump and the auxillary belt tensioner, remove the belt and and spin each individually or carefully hold a long bladed screwdriver up to all the belt driven components and have a listen.

 

[chatteris]

Finally got a chance to look at the car at the weekend , there is a small bolt that goes into the centre of the clutch on the air con pump and it was loose.
I took it out and cleaned it and put it back with locktite and now its quiet again.
It was difficult to get to and trying to hold the clutch still while I tightened the bolt was a pain but I dont mind as it did not cost me anything, I was expecting a large bill.
Thanks for the replies everyone.