After having the reman Jasper engine installed and having the KJ (03 Auto 4x4 129K miles) back for a couple weeks... we noticed a rattling coming f/the front end. Sounded like a loose bolt or something so I was doing some checking and found nothing loose. Then noticed that when turning on the AC, while idling the compressor was making a rattling sound. This never happened prior to the new engine install... so I was wondering what it could be?

The shop who did the install has been closed for vacation this week, but it's due for the 500 mile check-up and I wanted to get some ideas f/others on what it could be. I'm not sure if the AC system had to be evacuated and refilled f/coolant and oil during the swap... but I do know this was not an issue before the swap.

Suggestions on what to look for? Could be something simple (or at least I hope so after dropping $5.8K on a new engine install)

Thanks.

If the AC system was not recharged, the compressor should not run at all in normal conditions.

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2006 Liberty CRD Limited

Provent @ 43,000 km
SEGR in progress
SAMCO Sport hoses @ 48500 km
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac LT225/75R16

Sounds like bad timing for the compressor clutch bearing to fail.Not at all related to the engine swap.

Yeah I agree here, the clutch bearing is probably bad. I have seen on some forums, KJ owners finding loose bolts on the clutch assembly,..I have myself never had to look too close into that area and hope I never do!

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2002 Export CRD 2.5 Sport

I have had to replace the Ac compressor on all three of the Kj's I have owned. On one all I did was change the belt and it started to make noise(the belt was a little tighter than the old stretched out belt.)

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2003 KJ Renegade, 5 speed, frankenlifted,Al's a Arms 4.5,Moabs 245/75/16 BFG KM2's, custom rock rails, full Mopar skids, Hella ff220 lights,Hd cooling,Front DTT,Riddler diff cover,Rola safari rack,Cobra 29 peaked & tuned.

Pastafari Alum, Pink shovel recipient

Well this info is not what I wanted to hear. Care to share how much the new AC
Compressor cost to get replaced?

I think the last one I paid to get replaced was around 500.00. I did the one a couple months ago but I took the part off of the fire damaged liberty to put on the Rene so My mechanic only charged me 30.00 to recharge it.

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2003 KJ Renegade, 5 speed, frankenlifted,Al's a Arms 4.5,Moabs 245/75/16 BFG KM2's, custom rock rails, full Mopar skids, Hella ff220 lights,Hd cooling,Front DTT,Riddler diff cover,Rola safari rack,Cobra 29 peaked & tuned.

Pastafari Alum, Pink shovel recipient

More then just the compressor will need to be changed out to keep the warranty on the new compressor.You also will need to swap in a new reciver/dryer and orifice tube(a whole line on a KJ).Having a shop do it will be $1000-$1200 depending on local labor rates and where they get the compressor.New OEM compressor will raise that price to almost $2000.

Yes AC work that is done right is very expensive as it is a luxury item.

Followup:

Turns out it wasn't the AC Compressor (at least for now). Took it back to the shop who did the install for it's scheduled 500 mile post-op checkup. Turns out the Belt Tensioner and the Fan Clutch were both going bad. Replaced both of those and also did an oil change for free and she's back on the road again. Hopefully no more work needs to be done for a long time to come.

Thanks again for the replies and information.

I had the same problem with this noise 2 years ago. I replaced Belt Tensioner and the Fan Clutch and the noise went away but a few weeks later the clutch bearing went on my AC compressor. Like Troy said, the timing was off to the AC clutch and toasted the compressor. Thank god I have the tools and as a second trade I am an HVAC dude. The money I saved, I put into beer while I pulled a deep vac on my new system.

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2003 KJ Sport JEEPZILLA Edition
American Flag flying high
Frankenlift removed =(
Moabs and plenty of pin striping
Flexable people don't get bent out of shape!
Current MPG 6" to a gallon
L.O.S.T. # BL065211
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