QuestionMy car has a loud, sometimes knocking noise from engine area. It makes it sound like a big rig. It sounds a little smother when in 4th or 5th gear, but still very noisy. I've only took it to one place so far and they said that the AC compressor baring is going out. Said that my fan is always running and that's why I hear it when the AC is not on. My gear shift also seams to be a lot looser than usual. Could this be related?
AnswerI think there's either a communication issue with the place that looked at the car, or they don't fully understand what's going on.
It's certainly possible that the A/C compressor could be the cause of the noise, but the radiator fan running doesn't make the compressor run. In fact, the radiator fan shouldn't always be on unless you're operating the A/C or defrost (which would keep the A/C on).
Without hearing the noise and having a good idea where it is originating, it's difficult to say whether the loose gearshift is related. It's certainly possible that a loose gearshift could contribute to a noise.
To find your answer, you're probably going to need to take the car to a shop that's familiar with how your vehicle operates and is willing to take the time to hunt down the source of the noise.
