GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My A/C hisses when on. Almost like water hitting a hot coal. My last car did it only when you first turned the A/C on. Vibe does it more when going down hill than up. The car drives fine. It is not a constant noise. Just when slowing or turning. We hardly used the A/C last year after we bouight it in Sept. So I don't remember this. Yes, the drain is dripping. The DEF function does not make this noise. Which is the only other time the compressor is operating. Other than the noise the A/C does work good in this 96 degree 70 dewpoint environment......Is this a "normal" noise thing? I did not know where else to put this.

Mine has always done it when it recharges the system. Maybe your freon level is getting low. Is your air still cold?

what do you mean...when "IT" recharges the system? Yes it's cold. Do you mean when the compressor cycles?

Is it coming from the dash or the compressor?It always sounded like I had a waterfall going in my dash when I ran the A/C. But if it is a compressor issue, that wouldn't surprise me at all...

It is cold...like I said before. I just don't remember that sound before. Almost like ...a snake with an attitude. It is not constant. But noticable around town driving. Goes in cycles...I think? Maybe it's just there around town. I'll know tomorrow on my 250 mile trip....not even 10k on it. Last time I had the dealer fix the A/C on the last car. he blew out a seal.

Quote, originally posted by jasonvibe »what do you mean...when "IT" recharges the system? Yes it's cold. Do you mean when the compressor cycles?Yes.

Quote, originally posted by jasonvibe »It is cold...like I said before. I just don't remember that sound before. Almost like ...a snake with an attitude. It is not constant. But noticable around town driving. Goes in cycles...I think? Maybe it's just there around town. I'll know tomorrow on my 250 mile trip....not even 10k on it. Last time I had the dealer fix the A/C on the last car. he blew out a seal.Mine has always done the same thing.

then I guess it's pretty normal. I won't worry till the A/C does not get cold enough. Anyone else with input would also be reassuring me.............. Thanks...BC your a hell of a guy...

Ha, Ha, thanks. No Problem.

Jay, I have the same problem, except I notice the hiss most when I accelerate. One of my friends asked me if I had a supercharger. I also notice a small difference in the way it drives. It seems to have less power and my shifts are always a bit choppy and rough.I just stopped using my a/c. lol It's windows down for me!

'i hear the hiss too!'and i agree with tcam, the shifting does get a bit 'choppy' with the a/c on...there must be a load issue there, but when driving with the a/c i just try and be a little more gentle with the accelerations and shifts.

Mine also sucks all the power out of the engine and it doesn't even get cold. I probly need the freon recharged. Or I could just remove the whole thing and get some power back.

The hissing sound is merely the freon flowing. (This is coming from an HVAC mechanic).

Mario, since u are a mechanic, why does the engine lose its power and get choppy shifting when the AC is on? I just don't understand how it could lose power.And now that other people admit to the same problem, I know that it's not just my car acting screwy.

The pulleys drive the AC doesn't it? That is why shifting/power gets worse because the engine is driving it via the pulleys. That's what I always was told. My car drive much better now with the AC on since I put my header on. Before that is sucked balls.

Well, I'm no auto mechanic (HVAC Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation), however I would imagine that power to the engine is lost because the air conditioning system requires alot of power.While I don't fix car air conditioners, the concept remains the same. You wont get the same power from your car because the a/c requires alot of power all on its own.

thanks for the info. The car hardly hissed when on my trip. Mario , you helped me to confirm my suspicions. SO when I never hear a hiss ...I might have a problem,,heee, heee. I guess I'm a lucky one. Hardly any loss of power(only notice up hills) and it gets pretty cold, pretty quick. The shifts are also hardly any different w/ AC on. My last big beast of a car did have the hard shift thing w/ AC on...but this one is much better.