# A/C shudder noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 25, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206 "2019-04-25T01:06:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@scj](https://community.cartalk.com/u/scj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/1 "2019-04-25T01:06:52Z")
2015 Nissan Rogue. 46,000 miles. When sitting at stop lights after about 30 seconds there is what I would call a shuddering sound along with a vibration that lasts about a second. It only occurs when the a/c is on. When it does it repeats about every 30 seconds almost on cue. So I’m assuming it has to do with the a/c. Help is appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/2 "2019-04-25T01:11:04Z")
Is this the same problem you asked about in your June 2017 thread ? ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/3 "2019-04-25T01:11:21Z")
It’s probably the AC compressor’s clutch turning the compressor on and off. Not unusual. The compressor imposes some drag on the engine, which is transmitted to the crankshaft via the belt. You may also feel this as a little blips while under way at constant speed. If the belt is a little loose you may feel more “whip” but overall there’s not much to do about it. ---
**Author:** ![scj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@scj](https://community.cartalk.com/u/scj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/4 "2019-04-25T01:15:52Z")
I guess it is. Forgot about that. ---
**Author:** ![scj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@scj](https://community.cartalk.com/u/scj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/5 "2019-04-25T01:16:18Z")
Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/6 "2019-04-25T01:30:04Z")
On my Corolla I feel something like that when the electric radiator cooling fan turns on. It turns on based on the coolant temperature, and sitting at a stop light causes the coolant temp to gradually increase. If that’s what it is on your car, it’s normal. YOu could verify by parking your car when you get home from work but leaving the engine on. Pop the hood and watch what happens when the radiator cooling fan turns on when the coolant temp increases to the “on” temperature. Be careful, it starts spinning rapidly, without any notice. The cooling fan is also often designed to turn on when the A/C compressor turns on, independent of coolant temperature. ---
**Author:** ![scj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@scj](https://community.cartalk.com/u/scj)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/7 "2024-08-16T14:33:52Z")
I just thought that I should update this one. I took it back and basically they said the belt tensioner they put in was bad out of the box. What specifically I don’t know. But they just replaced it and no more chirps and squealing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-c-shudder-noise/139206/8 "2024-08-16T15:44:28Z")
Better late than never… 😆 But it is nice to get updates, thank you for letting us know what happened… 😃