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Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair/Loud clicking noise while idle with A/C running

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Expert: - 3/21/2011


Question
QUESTION: 2003 Jeep Liberty.  A very loud clicking noise that only occurs when not acclerating AND the A/C or heat is operating.  Accelerate or turn off the a/c, the noise goes away.

ANSWER: Hello Ben
There is couple of things to ask you first. Is the clicking coming from inside the cabin or inside the engine bay?
As it does it on idle, it should be possible to narrow it down further

Also is it a repetitive clicking noise that occurs ,say a few times a second, or does it occur once every 20-30 seconds

Let me know
Cheers
Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Inside the engine bay.  It is a repetitive clicking noise that will not stop unless accelerated or turning A/C off.  The clicking noise occurs a few times a second.  Thanks for your help.

Answer
It sounds like the condenser fan may be catching
With the engine off spin the fan manually and see whether you can hear it that way
The condenser fan doesn't run without the a/c on and when the engine revs you are unlikely to hear it
Sometimes a twig gets in the housing or even a leaf will make a noise

Try that and let me know
Cheers
Paul

Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair

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Paul Evans/ www.chillywillys.org

Expertise

Any question related to the function or malfunction of vehicle air conditioning excluding model specific problems with the heater controls. We are a UK based company and are unlikely to be familiar with the exact make and model of American vehicles. We will always at least try to guide the owner towards what the problem is likely to be in this instance We may struggle with none specific electrical issues related to the a/c without seeing it but it is likely we could narrow the problem down

Experience

Director www.chillywillys.org specialising predominantly in UK vehicles, fleet, rare and collectables. Although all a/c works on the same principal US vehicles have different controls and electrics. 12 years experience automotive and aircraft air conditioning. This is our sole source of revenue, we see lots of a/c issues that we are able to diagnose accurately mainly down to experience. UK have garages caught on to a potential revenue stream within the last few years but sometimes struggle with the problems as they don't see the issues that often........to be fair they could get their own back and ask me to change a timing belt ! Certain vehicles have known issues, we can help with that and also anything that is obvious to us but not necessarily to the bamboozled owner....... a/c is relatively new here and owners are catching on to maintenance but are sometimes still misguided by inexperienced individuals a bit timid to say' I don't really know

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