I recently noticed my 2009 H3 Alpha Air Conditioning making a noise that is similar to the sound of a fish tank pump, but only when the compressor is operating. It's not too loud and it might have been making it for a while but I only recently noticed and correlated it to the AC.

Related, very recently my AC performance has been somewhat hit and miss where sometimes it takes longer to cool down and does not get as cold as before. Previously I would routinely see 40 deg output temp at the upper vents. Now I've been seeing 45-60 deg depending on what I'm doing and how hot it is outside. Its hot here right now (95F+) and I first noticed reduced performance just a week ago while doing an overland run in Western Colorado between 7k-11k ft, generally at 20mph and slower, and temps of 90-105 outside.

I took it to a shop this morning and they are recommending I replace the compressor, condenser, and expansion valve. It seems the diagnosis is primarily related to the noise I reported from the compressor. When I dropped it off this morning it was about 85 outside and the system was cooling to 40F and seemed to be noise free, so it seems to me that I don't (yet) have a hard failure. They said the system does show a leak at the service ports.

So, my questions:

• What do y'all's compressor sound like when they are running? Do you hear a muted drumbeat type noise (like a fish tank pump), or do I really have something abnormal going on?
• What does a failing compressor sound like (vs. low refrigerant).
• Is there a more objective way to diagnose a compressor failure? (e.g. Line pressures, or other diagnostic tests that will confirm proper operation or failure?)
• Is replacing the condenser and expansion valve typically recommended/required for a compressor replacement? To me that's like replacing the radiator and thermostat just because you replaced a water pump (or fan clutch).

I typically do all my own work and don't have a regular shop that I go to when I don't have the tools or skills. I'm also pretty leery of shops in general padding their estimates to drum up business with unnecessary work. So, I'm really trying to figure out if that's what's going on here, or if I need to bite the bullet and have them rebuild the AC system.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.

 

Here's a couple of videos of the sound - 1st from inside the cab, 2nd from the engine side:

 

Hotter = Longer & Louder! 20°F+below>>> Ambient= a/c still works as designed.

 

Thanks Hummerz - so the shop is scamming me? I regret taking it there already - they folded one the the alignment tabs on my air filter box cover into the lip of the lower mating surface and broke the tab while doing an unauthorized "courtesy check" of the air filter, and the A/C is now even warmer than when I dropped it off. The same "courtesy check" involved taking photos of a bunch of stuff that is totally normal (like coolant level, brake pad wear, ) and recommended services that are totally not needed (like cooling system pressure check and a brake job). Total BS - this is why I hate going to shops. Grrrrrrr.

 

I DIY! You also can learn how to via many YT videos. In the meantime if the A/C is cooling 20°F+below Ambient "DONT FIX IF IT AINT BROKE!"
I'm currently dealing with road repair that was broke for many years. Having 4wd's in the driveway make for an easy exit left or right.