A/C Clunk

[Kilgore Trout]

Every day I find a new problem with my POS Cobra

Anyways, whenever the a/c kicks on there is a distinct clunk. The a/c works fine, blows very cold air. The car has 23k miles on it.

Tonight I will inspect the idlers, tensioner, and a/c compressor mounting bolts.

If anyone has any suggestions as to exactly what might be causing this please let me know...

 

[Uncle Meat]

Known problem. Theres a SSM on this. Take it in to the stealership and they will put some foam on one of the AC lines by the firewall (or something to that effect). When the A/C compressor kicks on & off the sudden pressure increase in the line causes it to flex and smack the firewall or some chit like that. Mine does it too, but since I rarely use the A/C I don't worry about it much.

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Will the stealership charge me for this procedure? If I ask for an ECU reflash at the same time can I expect to get charged for that?

 

[Uncle Meat]

Good question... I'm assuming you have no warranty, yes? In addition to having the A/C clunk fixed you want the latest EEC calibration that addresses the "stall" issue? Don't quote me on this, but I don't believe the dealership HAS to perform actions outlined in Ford SSM's at no cost if the vehicle is already out of warranty. I'm sure you know who to ask that specific question to though...

You bought this snake from a Ford dealership though didn't you? I'd think they would handle small problems like this at no cost...

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yeah, I have been making them feel guilty about the missing convertible top boot. It should not be hard to guilt them into doing these things for free...

In other news top boots cost $400

 

[Uncle Meat]

Hey, I don't remember anyone twisting your arm and forcing you into buying a 'vert.

Personally I never saw the interest people see in the 'vert version of a muscle car. They are heavier and flex more. Two things most people don't want in a muscle car.

To each his own though.

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Did you just diss verts?

Verts > *

I will never own a Mustang coupe again. Three of the four Mustangs I have owned were verts. The chicks dig them and so do I

 

[Uncle Meat]

Cool, but I didn't buy my car to impress chicks.

You should have saved yourself a lot of money and just bought a 'vert Sunfire or something similar. You'd still be impressin' the honeys with yer vertness and your monthly payments would be drastically lower!

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

ouch

 

[timeless2]

Cool, but I didn't buy my car to impress chicks.

You should have saved yourself a lot of money and just bought a 'vert Sunfire or something similar. You'd still be impressin' the honeys with yer vertness and your monthly payments would be drastically lower!

U.M.

But then he would be unable to keep up with an Ion Redline.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Actually it really is about the Redline, I never got over that...

 

[Uncle Meat]

I don't know man.... them Sunfires are pretty quick! I think it could take a Redline no problem.

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Do you know the SSM# or how I can find out what it is? What does SSM stand for?

 

[Uncle Meat]

Do you know the SSM# or how I can find out what it is? What does SSM stand for?

Special Service Message 17531 and/or 17286.

U.M.

 

[zerbrenny]

Every day I find a new problem with my POS Cobra

Anyways, whenever the a/c kicks on there is a distinct clunk. The a/c works fine, blows very cold air. The car has 23k miles on it.

Tonight I will inspect the idlers, tensioner, and a/c compressor mounting bolts.

If anyone has any suggestions as to exactly what might be causing this please let me know...

I'd like to offer one other theory; on my "other" mustang the AC clutch bearing was slowing going out and it had similar symptoms. It finally shattered and I replaced it.
One other possibility is that you have some "goop" on the clutch assembly preventing smooth operation. Maybe you hit a thick mud puddle

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Are you saying there is mud on my engine sir?

j/k I will look into those possibilities...

 

[Uncle Meat]

One way to settle this... Put your A/C on max and temp set all the way to max cold and listen for the thump. I'll be you'll hear nothing. If you then turn down the temp so that if forces the system to cycle on and off to maintain the temp setting you'll here the "thump" every time the compressor kicks on but not off, right?

Trust me, it's a known problem on 03/04 Mustangs & Cobra's as stated previously.

U.M.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Every time it cycles on it clunks.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Sounds just like someone lightly smacked your firewall with a rubber mallet don't it?

U.M.

 

[Prometheus]

Sounds just like someone lightly smacked your firewall with a rubber mallet don't it?

U.M.

I kind of like the "thunk" sound. At least I know something is going on with the AC. I take it as something similar to road noise and blower noise.