[Az Runner]

Like some others, my Karma has also been making a loud, medium pitched, vibrating sound coming from the left front. Only when the car is moving, starts as I go faster than about 30mph, stops when I slow below 10mph. Only happens when the AC is on, then stops a few minutes after I turn the AC off. I can feel the vibration in both pedals. Noise not affected by ICE.

Because of all that, I suspected it might be the AC compressor fan, or something like that. When I started poking around the left front under the hood, I found this bracket laying between the engine compartment fusebox and the side of the engine compartment. :huh: For orientation, the headlight is at the top left of the pictures.

A little history; a few months ago, my AC started cutting out, and on a long drive, I got an ICE overheat warning followed soon after (1-2 minutes) by actual overheating, radiator boiled over and everything, just as I pulled off the interstate. Dealer was still around back then, and they said the fan that cooled the AC compressor was bad. It also apparently helps cool the ICE, so that was why the ICE overheated. They replaced the fan assembly. A couple of months ago (after they stopped support), I started getting the noise/vibration.

Anyone know what this bracket is for? It was clearly connected at some point, there are nut/washer markings on it. Also found this loose unconnected wire assembly in the same area. Nothing obvious in the area it might connect to. I haven't noticed anything not working after they fixed the fan.

 

[dennis]

Also found this loose unconnected wire assembly in the same area. Nothing obvious in the area it might connect to. I haven't noticed anything not working after they fixed the fan.

IIRC, the recall to fix the fans that caused the Woodside fire replaced two fans with one. So maybe the unconnected wire assembly was for the deleted fan.

 

[Az Runner]

That could be it on the wires. It's a Laguna, so it was very late in production. Got it on August 31st, so almost every fix was already in when I picked it up.

 

[Az Runner]

Mystery solved! Was just chatting with sportsmeddoc, who recognized it as a brace for the front fascia. I found the matching one on the other side as a guide and put it back in. Might have fallen out during the fan assembly fix.

Still making noise, though...

 

[NJFISKERGUY]

I'm not sure but at one time fisker had a fan on the left-side. I think it was part of the fan mount and the connector to the fan.


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[NJFISKERGUY]

Ok I guess I was wrong. Lol


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[Az Runner]

Well, I think you are right that there is a fan there. That definitely seems to be where the vibration/noise is coming from. Can't see it, though, must be buried down in there.

 

[NJFISKERGUY]

AZ Runner i think they had a fan there and then they pulled it out( i.e. a recall) Harlyguy or Lomax should has more details on this then me i think.

 

[Lormax]

That bracket is part of the campaign for the 'devil horns' fix, which was used to help prevent the bumper tips from curling up. It sounds like you have it reinstalled though.

The unconnected wire assembly is possibly for the lo-temp cooling fan that used to be in that corner, directly in front of the tire. The drivers side fan was removed and a pigtail was put onto the connector to close the loop. The passenger side fan was replaced with a new fan along with an in-line fuse in the wiring. Personally, I haven't seen any issues arise because of the recall.