Subaru Forester Air Conditioning Problems

I own 2011 forester since oct 2011. After a few weeks of using my AC and it sounding normal, it started making a LOUD click and a LOUD buzzing noise by the compressor (buzzing lasts from 3 to 10 seconds) when I would first push the AC button to turn on the compressor. It sounds the worst first start up of the day or afterthe car sits for a while. After it males that noise and while it's running it sounds and works normal.
I brought it to Subaru service and they said it sounded normal as they compared it to another 2011 Forester.
I know it is not Normal. If it was it would have sounded like that from day one. It is also starting to get worse.
Does anyone else have this problem?
Can anyone tell me what they think can be slowly going wrong?
However it does not make a constant chirp noise like yours. I'm suspecting yours is a belt or pulley problem.

Reply

#54 of 55 2011 Subaru Forester AC noise by compressor by cain4705

Aug 10, 2012 (11:09 am)

I own 2011 forester since oct 2011. After a few weeks of using my AC and it sounding normal, it started making a LOUD click and a LOUD buzzing noise by the compressor (buzzing lasts from 3 to 10 seconds) when I would first push the AC button to turn on the compressor. It sounds the worst first start up of the day or afterthe car sits for a while. After it males that noise and while it's running it sounds and works normal.
I brought it to Subaru service and they said it sounded normal as they compared it to another 2011 Forester.
I know it is not Normal. If it was it would have sounded like that from day one. It is also starting to get worse.
Does anyone else have this problem?
Can anyone tell me what they think can be slowly going wrong?

Reply

#55 of 55 Re: A/C Problem on 2004 Forester [techmarcom] by mithras

May 10, 2013 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: techmarcom (May 17, 2012 12:35 pm)

I have a 2005 Forester (89,000 miles) with the same problem. It is, apparently, not unusual.

The A/C clutch is burned and slips when the engine and/or the clutch gets hot. A new compressor/clutch is required. The clutch cannot be repaired or replaced by itself). Price from local Subaru dealer: $649, plus $9 for a replacement bracket. That's without labor. Total price is "around $1,200."

The best price from a trustworthy local independent garage: $918.

My Subaru dealer says the $9 bracket is the cause of the problem.

55 messages, Last post on May 10, 2013 at 3:29 PM

#51 of 55 Re: 2011 Subaru Forester AC noise [chawkfan71] by xwesx

Jul 31, 2012 (9:30 am)

Replying to: chawkfan71 (Jul 30, 2012 7:26 pm)

#52 of 55 Re: 2011 Subaru Forester AC noise [xwesx] by ateixeira

Jul 31, 2012 (10:05 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jul 31, 2012 9:30 am)

#53 of 55 Re: 2011 Subaru Forester AC noise [chawkfan71] by cain4705

Aug 10, 2012 (7:30 am)

Replying to: chawkfan71 (Jul 30, 2012 7:26 pm)

#54 of 55 2011 Subaru Forester AC noise by compressor by cain4705

Aug 10, 2012 (11:09 am)

#55 of 55 Re: A/C Problem on 2004 Forester [techmarcom] by mithras

May 10, 2013 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: techmarcom (May 17, 2012 12:35 pm)

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