Air-con has hissing sound :(

[BMWSILVER]

Dear all,

My car 318i Saloon about 2 years old. Recently, Air-con has hissing sound.
However, once you switch off the air-con compressor the hissing disappeared.
Anyone has this same problem?

Next, it is normal to have griding sound after you switch off your Car Air-con and this griding sound will last for 8 to 10 seconds. Based on PML information, they told me this is normal because the Air-con compressor need some time to turn off and this caused the griding sound. Is this TRUE?

Thanks in advance

 

[ykh1]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

I guess the hissing sound is cause by the low aircon pressure.........go and have a check.

 

[Puny]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Hi Ben,

Coincidentally, I had the the exact same problem for a couple of months.
PML had it fixed for me today at Kg Arang when I had it towed for a snapped belt..

Just need to top up with gas and the sound goes away.

Symptoms.
1) Slight hissing at low volume
2) The hiss gets louder until the point that it's audible even when the radio is on
3) Hissing continues for a couple of seconds after turning off the aircon
4) If you off the aircon via the air-con button (no chilling), but leave the fan running, the sound goes away so it's not the fan blower.

Cheers,
Alvin.

 

[33]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Hi BMWsilver,

Had the same problems jus last week. After checking, it was found that there was a leakage of air con gas inside the car. Further checks shows that my cooling coil is "leaking" thus, it need to be changed.

The car have to be kept in the work shop for the entire night to be "dismantled" as the cooling coil, drier and expansion valve is only accessible from the inside of the car. (very painful to see the car being "rape")

Currently the car is back to normal after changes of the part......

you can go to Moto-Aire Services at Blk 7 Sin Ming Road #01-88 and look for Ah Chuan.....he will be able to help you.....

hope the above help.

 

[rodders]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

So what were the items that needed to be replaced and what was the total cost?

 

[T6]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

you can go to Moto-Aire Services at Blk 7 Sin Ming Road #01-88 and look for Ah Chuan.....he will be able to help you.....

Admin,

Can we put this contact under Resource Folder? Airconman hard to come by. I believe a couple of forummers have used this chap!

 

[33]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

So what were the items that needed to be replaced and what was the total cost?

The total cost was $900 for the entire "operation", I actually went to another air con workshop (near Sin Ming too)...and was quoted $1,200 for the same "operation"

All parts were original and the three major changes, Cooling coil, Expansion Valve and Receiver Drier (and honestly, i dun know what it means but i saw the parts)...

when i saw the way they dismantle the interior of the cars, my heart sinks....becos the dashboard, steering wheel, almost everything have to remove before they can access the affected part.

hope the above is of help......

 

[rodders]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Any creaks or funny sound coming from your dashboard after the operation?

 

[33]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Admin,

Can we put this contact under Resource Folder? Airconman hard to come by. I believe a couple of forummers have used this chap!

T6, agree with you on this.

This chap is good... he is responsible and very service oriented....in fact, i did ask him to help me as i need the car badly due to an urgent appointment on the next day.

Time given to collect the car the next day, 5pm..... after my request, he gave me the car at 3pm....and assure me that if there is any future problems, jus go back to him.

sibey solid....

 

[33]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Any creaks or funny sound coming from your dashboard after the operation?

yup, but it was becos but they broke a few "clips" which holds the interior trims....

went back to BVO for the clips and everything was back to normal...swee swee..... no more hissing sounds after that....

everything back to normal.....

 

[Oilman]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Just need to top up with gas and the sound goes away.

Do you know how long the gas should last - I understand this has a lot to do with frequency of usage, but is there a rule of thumb?

When I drove a Japanese hatch my mechanic said it can tahan up to two years... sounds to me like a long time!

 

[33]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Do you know how long the gas should last - I understand this has a lot to do with frequency of usage, but is there a rule of thumb?

When I drove a Japanese hatch my mechanic said it can tahan up to two years... sounds to me like a long time!

Bro....everything is "heng" , "suay" lah......

Some cars no need to top up for many months but some need, maybe by default of the parts, it break down earlier.

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Hi Ben,

Coincidentally, I had the the exact same problem for a couple of months.
PML had it fixed for me today at Kg Arang when I had it towed for a snapped belt..

Just need to top up with gas and the sound goes away.

Symptoms.
1) Slight hissing at low volume
2) The hiss gets louder until the point that it's audible even when the radio is on
3) Hissing continues for a couple of seconds after turning off the aircon
4) If you off the aircon via the air-con button (no chilling), but leave the fan running, the sound goes away so it's not the fan blower.

Cheers,
Alvin.

Hi ! Alvin.

I was at KA yesterday and I saw your car too

Thanks for your feedback and I have already made an appointment with PML to have my Air-con check on Monday

See you around

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

To: Alvin, Ykh1, 33 etc....

Thanks for your advices, I hope PML can solve the Air-con problem before car warranty expired

 

[TobyNik]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Hi Ben,

Coincidentally, I had the the exact same problem for a couple of months.
PML had it fixed for me today at Kg Arang when I had it towed for a snapped belt..

Just need to top up with gas and the sound goes away.

Symptoms.
1) Slight hissing at low volume
2) The hiss gets louder until the point that it's audible even when the radio is on
3) Hissing continues for a couple of seconds after turning off the aircon
4) If you off the aircon via the air-con button (no chilling), but leave the fan running, the sound goes away so it's not the fan blower.

Cheers,
Alvin.

Bro

Which belt snapped and how old's yr ride???

Sounded serious man.....

Can talk about it here?

Thanks!

 

[Puny]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Hi Ben,

No problem. Since yours is under warranty, better to get things replaced. The console takes quite a bit of labour to dismantle and easily takes 1-2 days. Including the blower, I reckon they'll also replace the coil. Cost is quoted at $1400 at PML (outside still ard $800-1000 I think). But sometimes, it's just topping up of the aircon gas.

Bro
Which belt snapped and how old's yr ride???
Sounded serious man.....
Can talk about it here?
Thanks!

Hi Simon,

Nothing serious. keke. Was parking and about to turn off the ignition when I heard a gurgling sound (actually, it was the v-belt flapping). Thought it was nothing initially. Came back to drive off and the battery warning light was on. The steering was super heavy (worse than w/o power steering) so I ended up calling PML for the tow at 10pm. Collected the next day. They replaced the tensioner, tensioner belt, v-belt, aircon belting, and other misc parts. Total around $200+ (labour $50+). Very reasonable - and they solved my aircon issue which had been bothering me for months - FOC. Car is coming 4 yrs in 2 days time, mileage abt 76K..

I am lucky that it happened when I was parked so there was little stress.

Cheers

 

[TobyNik]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Ah ok.

Thanks bro. Good to know all's well now....

Cheers!

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: Air-con has hissing sound

Dear all,

Update!

Just collected my car 318i Saloon back from PML(Leng Kee).

No more hissing sound from the Air-con

PML replaced the Cooling coil, Drier and Expansion Valve all under warranty

Please check your Air-con to see whether do you have the same problem.
If Yes, please send your car to PML immediately if your car is still under warranty

Cheers