I can only speak for mine, as well, but my A/C works fine, no noise at all. This is both with the circulate on and off; cools down way better than my last vehicle (Dodge Ram Crew Cab - but then again, Dodge has never had very good air conditioners - believe me, I know, I've owned 5!)

Anyway, here in Phoenix, we've been hittin' over 100 the past two weeks, and the A/C in the HHR works just fine - PHEW!

 

Yeah, but it's a dry heat. Hate it when people say that.

 

I'm not touching this one...

 

Right there with you, my bretHHRen........

 

Yes, it IS a dry heat, indeed - but I don't care who says what - a few years ago, we hit 122 (yes, degrees, and yes, Fahrenheit!) - the airport shut down because most aviation companies only guarantee their stuff up to 121 degrees (or is it 122? Can't remember for sure) Anyway, when it gets up to 122, no one's using the stupid "but it's a dry heat" routine - it's just plain damn hot!

 

My Wife always drives The HHR, But the last couple of times I've been with her I've noticed a whining noise from somewhere when she's accelerating. This is with the Air on. I mentioned this to the Service Adviser when we were there today concerning the sun visor problem. He has an HHR himself, and he says it's the Air Conditioner, and has the same noise with his! Go figure!!

 

Yep, Got it. It's a wine (growl) that i've heard on many cars when the A/C Compressor
is on. How can you tell? At a stoplight you can hear a wine (growl) noise coming from the front. The best way to tell is to go to the left side of the control, feet, face and turn the A/C on with the button. When off you can't hear anything, but turning it on, a slight wine(growl) developes. Also, when the compressor is running in the defrost mode, I can hear mine. This is why I wish GM would let the driver decide when or if the compressor is on. I heard at one time the reason GM has the compressor on when on defrost was to keep the freon circulating even in cold weather to keep the hoses from getting dry and freon leaking. Whenever the compressor is running there is oil circulating in the system as well as freon. This is supposed to keep down A/C problems and repairs.

 

Actually the reason the compressor runs during defrost is because dry air defrosts better then moist air. An air conditioner doesn't actually cool the air, it removes moisture, the byproduct of this action is cooler air.

Although keeping the seals, hoses, ect. from drying out for lack of use isn't the primary intent of running the A/C compressor during defrost, this like metioned above is a byproduct (bonus) of the former.

Your 100% correct in the fact that running the A/C during winter months keeps the system in tip top shape.

The auto industry knowing that the drier air defrosts better than moist air got a big bonus by having the A/C compressor run in defrost. This bonus is less A/C repairs under warranty. Of course, this action like most others also comes with a byproduct. And this would be less A/C repairs for the indusrty in general.

Good for you and I, bad for the repair shops.

 

It was 64 degrees here in NW Wis and got to use my a/c it and the fan were quiet.

If it is not in the 50's here we use a/c..

 

Well, the loud whirring sound just started happening to me this afternoon on the way back to work from lunch. I guess I'll be heading to the dealer this weekend. CRAP!