Howdy everyone,

Has the AC noise issue been solved?

If you're not familiar with the issue, some MINIs makes a funny wahhhh sound with the AC on and when RPM's reach around the 3000 RPM range.

Thanks,
JS

 

In a word, heck no. Or at least not to my knowledge. My '03 MCS howls, and the new '04 loaner Coop i'm returning tomorrow does it too.

 

>>Howdy everyone,
>>
>>Has the AC noise issue been solved?
>>
>>If you're not familiar with the issue, some MINIs makes a funny wahhhh sound with the AC on and when RPM's reach around the 3000 RPM range.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>JS

Well, MAYBE:

On my recent cross country drive from TX to CA I had to stop at the Scottsdale AZ dealer for a problem with my Xenon lights. While talking to a service rep, I asked them if they knew about the AC howl figuring that if NE1 should know about this, it would be the AZ folks (it was 103 deg F that day).
They said yes, we know about it, and there is a service bulletin out about how to deal lwith the problem. Supposedly, this sound is related to the recirculation flap that does not operate properly under all conditions, sometimes remaining stuck in a position that results in the holw. The fix is apparentky the insertion of a different type of foam spacer next to the recirc flap.

This above suggestion makes sense to me, since I don't have the AC howl all the time. I had also noticed a relationship with meteorological conditions, with it being more prevalent when hot and/or humid. This could be, as either the recirc flap on auto AC is more frequently called into action when hot & muggy, or if it is a flap hinging problem it could be related to humidity and/or ice formation related to humidity.

I have not had this work done yet, but will try to have this done during my next visit to my local Houston dealer, probably within the next 2 weeks. I will report on the results at that time.


The AC howl problem is unrelated to and not solved by replacing the PCV breather rubber tube that collapses if too old, even though some less knowledgeable dealers have reported this as a fix. these two issues are unrelated!

M.

 

could you get the number for the service bullitin or a copy of it? That way we can tell our localc dealer about it.

 

To further complicate matters:
The situation the AZ dealer described is, I believe, a different issue from "the howl".
What he described only happens at highway speed w/ recirc on, correct? A weird hiss or squeak around 75 to 85 mph?
I have that, as well as the A/C induced crazy mouth-in-a-bean-can "WAAAAHH" howling sound - especially noticeable when driving around town. It is present with or without recirc on.
I'm fairly certain the "Howl" is the latter, but I could be wrong (happened at least once before..).

 

MG-BGT - Wow - Thanks! If you do have the number of the Bulletin, it would be of great help.

 

I'll try to get a bulletin number asap and will post it.
What I have and described to the dealer, is the 'crazy mouth in can wwhhhaaaaaaa' type howl that appears at around 3500 rpm, not the one at any particular speed. In fact, the one I have can be reproduced at standstill at the above rpms.
Will post more soon.
M.

 

From an employee at a MINI dealership, posted on another board:

There is a fix for the whistling problem.
A modification to the fresh air / recirculated air flap in the heater boxfor all cars from October 2002 production.
Have your dealer reference Service Information Bulletin # 64 01 04.