So i just got the car two weeks ago and have noticed a minor but annoying problem. the car makes a slight rattling sound when idling or driving that seems to be originating on the passenger side under the hood. if the climate control is on at all this doesn't occur. You can hear it for a couple seconds when the car first starts and then ceases when the climate control turns on, but if you turn climate control off it comes right back. Has anyone else had any similar experiences?

Is the AC coming on with the climate control? My two thoughts are ac clutch or harmonic balancer.

the AC doesn't necessarily need to be on. as long as the "outside" air button is on or the defroster the rattling doesn't occur but it also doesn't happen if the A/C is on either. ill look into that.

A hunch...........I'd check the fan motor, squirrel cage, etc. Sounds like a low harmonic vibration when fan is idling. When rpm'd up for climate control, harmonic vibration ends.

What I was saying is that AC clutches can rattle when not ingaged.

Mine rattles bad, only because it is not charged at all.

That'* what i don't get, the A/C and climate control work great, i just would like to be able to drive the car without the climate control engaged without having to hear the rattle. is there anything you can do about rattling A/C clutches? The rattle isn't that bad but i'm a little obsessive about unusual noises coming from the car.

Harmonic balancers aren't common on the S2 motors like the S1'*. I'd start thinking fan or something in a defroster duct.

Pinks.. rattling isn't a symptom of having no freon.

My 2000 SSEI did the same exact thing last week and i brought it to the dealer and it turned out to be the AC clutch. Had it repaired and now it works like new.

What did they fix exactly?