climate control making a whooshing sound

[jruppert]

Ive owned my 03 LS since March and i've noticed when running climate control I hear this whooshing sound every minute or so. Its a gradual increase in sound until it lets out this whooosh and then it goes away. Then you start to hear it build up again after a minute. It is rather annoying.. My thoughts were the blend door. Has anyone come across something like this before?

 

[regiment1]

There isn't a blend door. These cars have a DCCV (google that and you'll see lots of posts about them).

Is this only when you are using A/C, or heat as well? If it's only A/C look at recharging your refrigerant, although people usually describe that as a long hiss rather than whooshing sound.

 

[joegr]

I too suspect that you are hearing the AC expansion valve due to the refrigerant level being low. You may have a leak, but it's possible that you just need some refrigerant added to replace what very slowly out gasses through the hoses. It wouldn't be at all unreasonable after eleven years.

 

[jruppert]

Thanks for the help. The sound is a whoosh or hiss sound. Its like something is slowly building up pressure and then it releases. To be honest, I didnt think the AC was all that cold this summer. I should start with recharging it.

 

[jruppert]

Bought a can of refrigerant for $30. Fixed the problem so far. When starting out, the gauge read on the low end. After using the entire can, which was a decent size, it was closer to the middle area but still on the low end. We shall see how long this lasts.