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View Full Version : 98 F150 "warbling noise"



98SCSB
12-01-2018, 12:18 AM
On my 98 4.6 there is a strange "warble" coming from the passenger dash area. My guess is it is the A/C compressor, as it only happens when the A/C controls are turned on and the piece on the front of the compressor is spinning. From outside it sounds more like a clicking.

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Moosee1955
12-02-2018, 04:52 PM
Sounds like it. Disconnect the belt around compressor, see if it stops. Don't run it too long though, as you'll have no cooling, or charging with no belt.

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98SCSB
12-02-2018, 05:03 PM
Well it stops making the noise if I have the A/C controls set to off or panel. And i look under the hood with it running and it only clicks when that piece is moving and on top of that it won't hold any refrigerant anymore

Just trying to survive

Moosee1955
12-06-2018, 07:31 PM
What do you mean it won't hold refrigerant any more? Are you just cramming in ,R134 freon without guages? And why are you doing this? If you've got a noise, or warble as you stated, you need to eliminate why. Are you working on this vehicle? Or just want ammo to bring to mechanics? If you turn off Ac panel, and noise stops, you've narrowed it down to AC compressor, or Ac clutch at front of compressor. Did you pull the serpentine belt around pulleys? You will need an assistant, or turn on ac, listen safely and carefully near ac compressor. If you have a bad compressor, the pulley will make noise, or wobble when you spin it with belt off. Report back your findings.

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98SCSB
12-06-2018, 09:04 PM
I started with using a good A/C recharger after the A/C started not being as cold. Nothing I tried brought the reading on the guage up. I am positive that there is still charge left in the can and I tried a different guage and same thing. I am mainly working on it myself when I can because my grandma uses it. Occasionally, the clutch will stop spinning and the noise will stop when I have the controls on. I have not gotten the chance to pull the pulley off yet.

Just trying to survive

Moosee1955
12-08-2018, 02:36 PM
When you get a chance pull the belt, spin the pulley, see if it's free spinning. If your talking about the gauge on the can of freon, that may not work. Air-conditioning is a very complex unit, with a lot of different components. This may get a bit beyond your scope. Nothing wrong with that, I've been working on cars for close to fifty years, and I don't [emoji205] with AC, beyond basic stuff. Replacing the AC compressor is a tough, very long job. Over 4 hours to do. If you get the noise problem narrowed down, you or Grammy might want to pay a shop to R&R it.

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98SCSB
12-08-2018, 02:58 PM
That's what I was thinking. I'll have to get a shop to do it, my level of knowledge is nowhere near enough to do something like that Haha. Thanks for the feedback

Just trying to survive

Moosee1955
12-08-2018, 04:15 PM
Yeah, that's probably the smart money. These pickups are not easy to work on. I drive a 2000 Expedition, same vehicle. I've had it a little over 4 years, and did some things myself, and paid others to do other jobs. If they would have made the F150/Expeditions a foot longer in front, a lot of tough removable items like your AC compressor would probably take less than half the time. But alas, they didn't. Ironically the 5.0 liter motor on newer F150's are much easier to get at most items.

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98SCSB
12-08-2018, 06:18 PM
Yeah, I've been learning how to do some small stuff myself. Still have some damage on my hands from the last spark plugs. I'm inheriting this from my grandparents and trying to figure out the damage my grandpa did lol. It has almost 250k on it

Just trying to survive

Moosee1955
12-08-2018, 07:28 PM
Cuts and bruises are battle scars of a job well done. I'm 63 yrs old, and still cut my hands or arms every job. When I worked at a VW dealership back in 94, I was bleeding constantly, after about a week, I developed calluses, and my hands and arms didn't bleed as much. You picked a tough vehicle to learn on. But that's actually a good thing, cause when you work on older easier cars/trucks, you'll just laugh. Every year these manufacturers cram more and more into tight spaces. If you want a busier website to learn about this truck, log on to Ford expedition website. It's the same vehicle . There I'm 1955 Moose. 10 times the posts of this one.

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98SCSB
12-08-2018, 08:16 PM
Ok, I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the info!

Just trying to survive