Air Con Causing A 'tapping' Noise

[Jez]

Hi,

There's a loud tapping noise coming from my relatively new Fiesta's engine (3000 mileage) every 20 to 40 seconds, but I suspect it's the air con because it only happens when the air con is on. It taps immediately when i press the air con button at the same time as the air con fan spins up, and after that every 20 to 40 seconds. I've recorded the sound of it tapping and attached it to this post. It taps at 00:10, and 00:34, I close the bonnet at 00:39, then it taps at 00:56, and 01:17. Any ideas what the problem might be and how easy to fix? How serious is it?

What is it with me and air con? The !Removed! thing always goes wrong on me...

acclick.mp3

[jmurray01]

Probably a slapping belt. Tensioner maybe wasn't set right at the factory. It's probably still under waranty so take it to the garage for them to sort out B)

[artscot79]

Probably a slapping belt. Tensioner maybe wasn't set right at the factory. It's probably still under waranty so take it to the garage for them to sort out B)

to be honest it sound s like the compressor clicking on and off

[Jez]

to be honest it sound s like the compressor clicking on and off

Why would it be doing it on such a regular basis though? Seems like there's something wrong if it's doing it all the time, i mean air con isn't meant to cause tapping every 20 to 40 seconds is it?

[artscot79]

Why would it be doing it on such a regular basis though? Seems like there's something wrong if it's doing it all the time, i mean air con isn't meant to cause tapping every 20 to 40 seconds is it?

air con compressors dont run constantly or they would burn out there are higfh and low pressure sensors on the compressor when the system is pressurized with cold air the compressor clicks off till the pressure drops and then it kicks in to build it up just lkike youre fridge at home when you hear it come on and off yes it should click on and off ebvery 20- 40 seconds and is perfectly normal if it wasnt doing this then you have a problem

[Jez]

Aaaaand the winner is... artscot79! Took it to a dealers and 3 of their mechanics took a look at it, all said that it was perfectly normal. Shame I am lumbered with one of the air con pumps with a loud click when it comes on, though. You really can hear quite loud it even with the engine on and the bonnet closed! It makes it sound like there's something wrong with the engine. Presumably better quality air con systems are designed not to make this noise... at least, not so loudly.

[artscot79]

Aaaaand the winner is... artscot79! Took it to a dealers and 3 of their mechanics took a look at it, all said that it was perfectly normal. Shame I am lumbered with one of the air con pumps with a loud click when it comes on, though. You really can hear quite loud it even with the engine on and the bonnet closed! It makes it sound like there's something wrong with the engine. Presumably better quality air con systems are designed not to make this noise... at least, not so loudly.

my old vw passat was the same you can hear it audibly apparently youre meant to so that if it stops clicking on and off you know summats up you do after a bit forget its there and the vw had loads more noise insulation in it than the fords do the vw had climate control and trust me thats an expensive system and its still noisy you can be driving and you hear the click then again the click as it goes off then on etc took about 3 months before i got used to it

[MrrNoName]

my mk4 fiesta was the same every 40 seconds the compressor would click in or out "click" took it to two garages who both said this was totally normal :D