Lexus RX 330 - Moaning Sound Heard at 1,100-1,400 RPM

Lexus RX 330 – Moaning Sound Heard at 1,100-1,400 RPM

Some 2004-’06 RX 330 owners may experience a moan noise heard at 1,100 rpm to 1,400 rpm with the A/C on.
Applicable Vehicles: 2004-’06 model year RX 330 ­vehicles.

Repair Procedure:
1. Verify the customer concern.
  a. Start the engine.
  b. Turn on the A/C.
  c. Hold the engine rpm ­between 1,100-1,400.
  d. Turn off the A/C.

If there is a noticeable moan sound with the A/C on and no sound when the A/C is off, continue with this repair procedure.

2. Remove the engine side cover: Remove the four clips and then remove the engine side cover.

3. Evacuate the refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) with an R-134a Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling Machine.

4. Remove the engine under-cover assembly. ­Remove the five clips, four bolts and two screws, and then remove the engine under cover. figure 1

5. Remove V belt No. 1 (from the cooler compressor to crankshaft pulley). See Fig. 1.
  a. Loosen bolt C.
  b. Loosen bolt A.
  c. Loosen bolt B and remove V belt No. 1 (from the cooler compressor to crankshaft pulley).

6. Disconnect cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1.
  a. Remove the nut and disconnect cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1 from the compressor and magnetic clutch.
  b. Remove the O-ring from cooler refrigerant ­discharge hose No. 1.

Note: Seal the opening of the disconnected parts using vinyl tape to prevent moisture and foreign ­matter from entering.

7. Disconnect cooler refrigerant suction hose No. 1.
  a. Remove the bolt and disconnect cooler refrigerant suction hose No. 1 from the compressor and magnetic clutch.
  b. Remove the O-ring from cooler refrigerant ­suction hose No. 1.

Note: Seal the opening of the disconnected parts using vinyl tape to prevent moisture and foreign matter from entering.

8. Remove the compressor and magnetic clutch.
  a. Remove the bolt and wire harness bracket.
  b. Disconnect the connector and clamp.
  c. Remove the two bolts, nut and the cooler ­compressor bracket.
  d. Remove the three bolts, the compressor and the magnetic clutch.

9. Remove the magnetic clutch assembly. figure 2
Note: Do not change the combination of the magnetic clutch washers used before disassembly.
  a. Remove the two bolts and bracket.
  b. Place the compressor and magnetic clutch in a vise.

Note: Do not get the bracket and harness caught in the vise.
  c. Using tool SST O7112-76060 (see Fig. 2), hold the magnetic clutch hub.
  d. Remove the bolt, magnetic clutch hub and magnetic clutch washer.
There is no set number of magnetic clutch washers since they are used for adjusting.

10. Install the magnetic clutch washers and new magnetic clutch hub. Using the SST, hold the magnetic clutch hub and torque the bolt. Torque: 18 Nm (13 ft.-lbf.)
Make sure that there is no foreign matter or oil on the compressor shaft, bolt and clutch hub.

11. Inspect the magnetic clutch clearance.
  a. Set the dial gauge to the magnetic clutch hub.
  b. Connect the positive (+) battery lead to terminal 3 of the magnetic clutch connector and the negative lead to the ground wire. Turn the magnetic clutch on and off and measure the clearance.
Standard clearance: 0.35 to 0.60 mm (0.013 to 0.023 in.)
If the measured value is not within the standard range, remove the magnetic clutch hub and adjust it with magnetic clutch washers. Note: Adjustment should be performed with three or fewer magnetic clutch washers.
  c. Remove the compressor and the magnetic clutch from the vise.
  d. Install the bracket with two bolts.

12. Remove cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1.
a. Remove the bolt and disconnect the cooler refrigerant discharge hose from the condenser assembly.
b. Remove the bolt from the piping clamp and ­remove the cooler discharge hose.

Note: The next step is for 2004 model year vehicles only. If the vehicle is a 2005-’06 model year, go to step 14.

13. Replace the cooler bracket.
  a. Remove the bolt and then remove the cooler bracket.
  b. Install the new cooler bracket and hand-start the bolt.
  c. Torque the bolt. Torque: 9.8 Nm (85 in.-lbf.).

14. Install new cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1. figure 3
  a. Sufficiently apply compressor oil to the O-ring and fitting surface of the condenser.
  b. Connect the cooler refrigerant discharge hose to the condenser assembly and hand-start the bolt.
  c. Torque the bolt. Torque: 9.8 Nm (85 in.-lbf.)
  d. Place the piping clamp on the isolator stud and hand-start the nut.
  e. Torque the nut. Torque: 9.8 Nm (85 in.-lbf.)

15. Install the compressor and magnetic clutch. figure 4
  a. Hand-start the three bolts.
  b. Fully tighten the compressor and magnetic clutch with bolt A and bolt B, Fig. 3. Torque: 25 Nm (18 in.-lbf.)
  c. Install the cooler compressor bracket with the two bolts and nut, Fig. 4.
Bolt C – Torque: 25 Nm (18 in.-lbf.)
Nut D – Torque: 25 Nm (18 in.-lbf.)
Bolt E – Torque: 18 Nm (13 in.-lbf.)
  d. Tighten the compressor and magnetic clutch with bolt F, Fig. 5. Torque: 25 Nm (18 in.-lbf.)Figure 5
  e. Connect the connector and clamp on the cooler compressor bracket.
  f. Install the wire harness bracket with the bolt.

16. Install cooler refrigerant suction hose No. 1.
  a. Remove the attached vinyl tape from the hose.
  b. Sufficiently apply compressor oil (ND-01L8 or equivalent) to the new O-ring and fitting surface of the compressor and magnetic clutch.
  c. Install the O-ring to cooler refrigerant suction hose No. 1.
  d. Install cooler refrigerant suction hose No. 1 to the compressor and magnetic clutch with the bolt. Torque: 9.8 Nm (87 in.-lbf.)

17. Install cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1.
  a. Sufficiently apply compressor oil to the new O-ring and fitting surface of the compressor and magnetic clutch.
b. Install cooler refrigerant discharge hose No. 1 to the compressor and magnetic clutch. Hand-start the nut. Torque: 9.8 Nm (87 in.-lbf.)

18. Temporarily install V belt No. 1 (from the cooler compressor to crankshaft pulley).

19. Adjust V belt No. 1. Apply drive belt tension by turning bolt B (see Fig. 1).
Drive Belt Tension: New Belt: 170 +/- 10 lbf.; Used Belt: 125 +/- 10 lbf. Note: “New belt” refers to a belt that has been used on a running engine at idle for five minutes or less. “Used belt” refers to a belt that has been used on a running engine at idle for five minutes or more.

Note: Check that the drive belt fits properly in the ribbed grooves.

20. Fully tighten V belt No. 1, Fig. 1 .
  a. Tighten bolt A. Torque: 18 Nm 13 ft.-lbf.)
  b. Tighten bolt C. Torque: 58 Nm (43 ft.-lbf.)

21. Recharge the refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). Specified amount: 600 +/- 50 g (21.15 +/- 1.76 oz.)

22. Warm up the engine.

23. Inspect for any refrigerant leakage.

24. Verify the repair.
  a. Start the engine.
  b. Turn on the A/C.
  c. Hold the engine rpm between 1,100-1,400 and confirm no moan sound.
  d. Turn off the A/C.

25. Install the engine under-cover assembly.
  a. Install the engine under cover.
  b. Install the five clips, four bolts and two screws.

26. Install the engine side cover.
  a. Install the four clips.

Courtesy of Mitchell 1.

You May Also Like

TS Toolbox Guide February 2024

Here’s a look at some of the core feature and modern frills to consider when it’s time to move into a new office.

toolbox guide illustartion

The corporate world has offices. You hang pictures on the wall, keep a few trinkets on your desk and a few snacks in one of your desk drawers. It’s your space. As technicians, we have our toolbox. It’s our “office” on wheels. But it’s different. We have no “work from home” option. We can’t take it with us and work at a coffee shop. Our “office space” becomes far more important. This is where we make our living.The size of a toolbox and the features we choose depend on multiple factors, which have changed over the years along with automotive and tool technology. Here’s a look at some of the core features and modern frills to consider when it’s time to move into a new office.

Brake Lathe Basics

Resurfacing drums and rotors is a machining process with its own specific guidelines.

Refrigerant Oil Has to Be Right

Oil type is just as important as oil capacity.

Three bottles of refrigerant oil
Top 5 Tools: Steve Coffell, Auto World, Hazelwood, MO

Steve Coffell, a technician at Auto World in Hazelwood, MO, says his Top 5 Favorite Tools are: Related Articles – Mayhew Introduces New 14-Piece Micro Hand Tool Set – New Small Stud Extractor Now Available from Mayhew Tools – Matco Debuts 5-Piece Purple Screwdriver Set   OTC Genisys Touch – Quick scan, bidirectional control Snap-on

Wheel Bearing Adjustment Tools & Equipment

A wheel bearing that’s out of adjustment can reduce bearing life and can affect more than just the bearing. It’s important to adjust the wheel bearing endplay to the proper specifications. If the bearing set is adjusted too loose or too tight, it can cause the bearing to fail prematurely. There are a few types of assemblies, so using correct procedures and tools will ensure a comeback-free wheel bearing installation.

Other Posts

Embracing Cutting-Edge Solutions the Industry has to Offer

Embracing cutting-edge solutions is strategic and imperative for technicians navigating the constantly changing landscape of automotive maintenance and repair.

Nadine Battah
Repairify Announces Executive Leadership Changes

The company has named Craig Edmonds as president of asTech among other executive appointments.

TPMS: Are Retrofits in Your Future?

Installing a retrofit kit can be performed with the tools and equipment you already own and use on a daily basis.

Tire tread
PRT Launches 22 New Products on Complete Strut Assemblies

The new items come to expand the PRT portfolio in North American Market and represents more than 12 Million vehicles in new coverage.