Recently the Camry has started making a fairly loud "knocking" / "clattering" noise only in the following situation:
After I noticed it (at red lights, in drive throughs, or waiting to pull away from a parking space when in gear), I took it to a couple of shops.
The first shop said the motor mounts were bad (3 of the 4, all but the transmission mount, and gave a $1200 bid for those). I then replaced the (cheap and easily accessible) torque mount on top of the engine and took it to get a second opinion. I told the second mechanic what the first shop quoted, and asked him to check that diagnosis and replace any bad mounts.
He said that the three lower mounts were fine, but could be replaced if I wanted to improve vibration etc. and that the tensioner was my issue. He replaced that and the belt. The noise persisted, as soon as when leaving that shop. (There aren't any noticeably loose parts, heat shields, etc.)
After that unsatisfying fix, enter the "use a tool as a stethoscope to amplify noises" trick. (I wish I'd thought of that sooner.)
This points to the A/C compressor. It's hard to distinguish where the noise/vibration is coming from, but the compressor seems to be the culprit (touching the engine block leads to a small bit of vibration, as do the water pump/alternator), but the compressor seems to be making the most vibration/noise, by far.
Would you take it back in, with the direction that the compressor seems to be making the most noise/try and get another look? And if so, would you preemptively replace the compressor? I don't want to be cheap and cause further damage (potentially wiping out the condenser and other parts, if the compressor grenades), nor do I want to be stranded if it wipes out the belt when I'm driving.
I would replace the compressor if it gave out tomorrow, as I want to keep A/C, and am aiming to keep the car a good while longer. But I don't want to fire the parts cannon to the tune of over a thousand bucks if that isn't it. A/C work is not something I'd attempt to DIY, and the compressor (~$700 parts cost) seems to have a non-serviceable clutch/pulley assembly.
Any thoughts on this?
- A/C on
- In gear (may be a bit worse in reverse, but bad in any gear)
- Stopped
After I noticed it (at red lights, in drive throughs, or waiting to pull away from a parking space when in gear), I took it to a couple of shops.
The first shop said the motor mounts were bad (3 of the 4, all but the transmission mount, and gave a $1200 bid for those). I then replaced the (cheap and easily accessible) torque mount on top of the engine and took it to get a second opinion. I told the second mechanic what the first shop quoted, and asked him to check that diagnosis and replace any bad mounts.
He said that the three lower mounts were fine, but could be replaced if I wanted to improve vibration etc. and that the tensioner was my issue. He replaced that and the belt. The noise persisted, as soon as when leaving that shop. (There aren't any noticeably loose parts, heat shields, etc.)
After that unsatisfying fix, enter the "use a tool as a stethoscope to amplify noises" trick. (I wish I'd thought of that sooner.)
This points to the A/C compressor. It's hard to distinguish where the noise/vibration is coming from, but the compressor seems to be the culprit (touching the engine block leads to a small bit of vibration, as do the water pump/alternator), but the compressor seems to be making the most vibration/noise, by far.
Would you take it back in, with the direction that the compressor seems to be making the most noise/try and get another look? And if so, would you preemptively replace the compressor? I don't want to be cheap and cause further damage (potentially wiping out the condenser and other parts, if the compressor grenades), nor do I want to be stranded if it wipes out the belt when I'm driving.
I would replace the compressor if it gave out tomorrow, as I want to keep A/C, and am aiming to keep the car a good while longer. But I don't want to fire the parts cannon to the tune of over a thousand bucks if that isn't it. A/C work is not something I'd attempt to DIY, and the compressor (~$700 parts cost) seems to have a non-serviceable clutch/pulley assembly.
Any thoughts on this?
