Clicking sound when the AC is switched on in my U-VA

BenjiRoss · 12th February 2009, 22:34

I noticed this sound when I took the car out today.
When I switch on the AC there is a click which I hear one and the same sound is heard when I switch off the AC.
The noise is a metallic kind of click and can be heard from under the bonnet, but loud enough to be heard inside the cabin above the engine sound.
Its a single click heard when i switch on the AC and when I switch it off.
The sound does not come when I switch on the blower alone - only when the AC button is pressed or if I turn the knob to '1' with the Ac button on
The sound is originaring under the bonnet towards the left - it was dark so I couldnt locate the exact source.
There were no sparks or anything moving.
The Ac cools as before and after that initial single click sounds normal. The sound was present everytime i switched on (or off) the AC even after the engine was warmed up.
What could be the problem causing this sound - I'm certain it wasn't there before.

jkdas · 12th February 2009, 23:05

Its normal. Took you 6 months to hear this?

the_maassk · 13th February 2009, 09:56

Yup. Sounds normal. I suppose its the AC relay clicking on/off. I have that sound in my U-VA too. Its not pronounced because my ICE is playing all the time

. I can hear it when I switch off the music.

myavu · 13th February 2009, 11:55

I never noticed it on mine. 1t's almost 7000KM and 1 year...

esteem_lover · 13th February 2009, 12:13

Thats the compressor coming on & or going off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

Its normal. Took you 6 months to hear this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by myavu

I never noticed it on mine. 1t's almost 7000KM and 1 year...

Switch off your Stereo.

cyclops · 13th February 2009, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_maassk

Yup. Sounds normal. I suppose its the AC relay clicking on/off. I have that sound in my U-VA too. Its not pronounced because my ICE is playing all the time

. I can hear it when I switch off the music.

I guess its present in all the cars.. Even my alto makes a click when the a/c is switched on..

vasudeva · 13th February 2009, 12:43

Nothing unusual. I too hear it when I switch on the Corsa's AC. However, it is more of a low-decibel click.

adi99 · 13th February 2009, 12:53

Its normal. I too get the click sound in my swift and zen when the AC is switched on. I feel the click sound is a bit louder when the engine is cold and you put the AC on.

getsurya · 13th February 2009, 12:54

Benji,
No issues at all! Be concerned if this click sound does not come and then your AC does not work

AC relay and compressor powering on and off-to keep you Cool in your ride!!

BenjiRoss · 13th February 2009, 13:51

Lol.... I'm pretty sure I noticed it for the first time only yesterday.
Maybe the click just got louder.
Thanks for all your reassurances.

anupmathur · 13th February 2009, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_maassk

Sounds normal. I suppose its the AC relay clicking on/off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by getsurya

AC relay and compressor powering on and off-to keep you Cool in your ride!!

I'd imagine it is not the relay you are hearing, it's the magnetic clutch in the AC compressor!
Perfectly normal.

If it were the relay, you'd hear a similar sound when turning on/off your headlamps! Almost similar rating relay in both.

BenjiRoss · 20th February 2009, 16:49

Funny thing I am pretty sure I never heard the sound before at all.
And for the last couple of days when driving I hear the same noise - the same click - at other times too while I am driving. It does not coincide with when I switch on or off any lights. It seems to coincide with when I take my foot off the accelerator (not consistent though) but not with when I brake.
Is this just a case of my ears getting sharper or do I need to look at something specific. The AC functioning and all the lights and brakes work fine.

anupmathur · 20th February 2009, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenjiRoss

Funny thing I am pretty sure I never heard the sound before at all.

Benji, do a simple test. Start the car, ask a friend to sit in the car and turn the AC on and then off, repeatedly, while you stand at the engine bay with the bonnet open.
This will at least help to locate the source of the sound. It is probably the magnetic clutch of the AC compressor.

adheesh · 21st February 2009, 00:38

Its the magnetic clutch of the compressor which gets accutated when you switch the AC on. Its perfectly normal.
Also if you are more curious about one more sound try this out : Turn on your blower at speed 3 and carefully listen for the click sound when you switch the blower to 4. That is the secondary relay sound !

Enjoy listening !!

Regards,
Adheesh Parelkar

12th February 2009, 22:34	#1
BenjiRoss Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tamilnadu Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 1,330 Times	Clicking sound when the AC is switched on in my U-VA I noticed this sound when I took the car out today. When I switch on the AC there is a click which I hear one and the same sound is heard when I switch off the AC. The noise is a metallic kind of click and can be heard from under the bonnet, but loud enough to be heard inside the cabin above the engine sound. Its a single click heard when i switch on the AC and when I switch it off. The sound does not come when I switch on the blower alone - only when the AC button is pressed or if I turn the knob to '1' with the Ac button on The sound is originaring under the bonnet towards the left - it was dark so I couldnt locate the exact source. There were no sparks or anything moving. The Ac cools as before and after that initial single click sounds normal. The sound was present everytime i switched on (or off) the AC even after the engine was warmed up. What could be the problem causing this sound - I'm certain it wasn't there before.
	() Thanks

12th February 2009, 23:05	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Its normal. Took you 6 months to hear this?
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 09:56	#3
the_maassk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vadodara/ NG7 2QP Posts: 205 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Yup. Sounds normal. I suppose its the AC relay clicking on/off. I have that sound in my U-VA too. Its not pronounced because my ICE is playing all the time . I can hear it when I switch off the music.
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 11:55	#4
myavu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Delhi - Kochi Posts: 1,503 Thanked: 1,725 Times	I never noticed it on mine. 1t's almost 7000KM and 1 year...
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 12:43	#7
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	Nothing unusual. I too hear it when I switch on the Corsa's AC. However, it is more of a low-decibel click.
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 12:53	#8
adi99 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 274 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Its normal. I too get the click sound in my swift and zen when the AC is switched on. I feel the click sound is a bit louder when the engine is cold and you put the AC on.
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 12:54	#9
getsurya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,641 Thanked: 1,929 Times View My Garage	Benji, No issues at all! Be concerned if this click sound does not come and then your AC does not work AC relay and compressor powering on and off-to keep you Cool in your ride!!
	() Thanks

13th February 2009, 13:51	#10
BenjiRoss Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tamilnadu Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 1,330 Times	Lol.... I'm pretty sure I noticed it for the first time only yesterday. Maybe the click just got louder. Thanks for all your reassurances.
	() Thanks

20th February 2009, 16:49	#12
BenjiRoss Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tamilnadu Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 1,330 Times	Funny thing I am pretty sure I never heard the sound before at all. And for the last couple of days when driving I hear the same noise - the same click - at other times too while I am driving. It does not coincide with when I switch on or off any lights. It seems to coincide with when I take my foot off the accelerator (not consistent though) but not with when I brake. Is this just a case of my ears getting sharper or do I need to look at something specific. The AC functioning and all the lights and brakes work fine.
	() Thanks

21st February 2009, 00:38	#14
adheesh BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 526 Thanked: 53 Times View My Garage	Its the magnetic clutch of the compressor which gets accutated when you switch the AC on. Its perfectly normal. Also if you are more curious about one more sound try this out : Turn on your blower at speed 3 and carefully listen for the click sound when you switch the blower to 4. That is the secondary relay sound ! Enjoy listening !! Regards, Adheesh Parelkar
	() Thanks