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clicking when engine is cold

mattlee

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leicestershire
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Civic 2.2 i-ctdi
when i start my car from cold i have this random clicking noise which dissappears after about 5-10 minutes with the engine on, it still clicks if stationary or driving but seems to go once the engine is warmer.

it sounds to me like its coming from the alternater. what could be making it click?

its not a constant click just a random click that seems to get worse if lights etc are turned on making me think it must be the alternater. i have no issues with starting etc and no lights on the dash etc. could it be on its way out?

ive seen the video of the damaged battery and how that clicks and its totaly different to that and it only does it when the engine is running. this is a constant click and mine is just random but frequent.

am i looking in the right direction or could it be something else?
 
when i start my car from cold i have this random clicking noise which dissappears after about 5-10 minutes with the engine on, it still clicks if stationary or driving but seems to go once the engine is warmer.

it sounds to me like its coming from the alternater. what could be making it click?

its not a constant click just a random click that seems to get worse if lights etc are turned on making me think it must be the alternater. i have no issues with starting etc and no lights on the dash etc. could it be on its way out?

ive seen the video of the damaged battery and how that clicks and its totaly different to that and it only does it when the engine is running. this is a constant click and mine is just random but frequent.

am i looking in the right direction or could it be something else?
Matt from a cold engine the injectors will make this noise this might be the noise you are hearing.
 
it has only started doing it recently though and seems to be getting worse.

it defo sounds like its coming from the alternater area near the drive belt.
 
If you switch the air con to 'off' and set the temperature to 'lo' does it stop doing it?

If so it might be the hot gas heater coming in -which it does (on mine at least) even when the air con is off when the coolant temperature is below the cabin set temperature (i.e. freshly started engine).

Once the engine has warmed a little and can supply room temperature water to the heater matrix it switches off. Doesn't explain why you've only just noticed it though...
 
The only thing that would click in your engine bay is the AC clutch kicking in as Matt has suggested mate.. Always hard to diagnose stuff like this over the internet. Maybe get a second opinion from a local garage.
 
it doesnt matter if the ac is on or off it still does it.

i doubt it is the compressor clutch as my ac hasnt worked for over a year until yesterday
 
ive just had a mate round who use to be a Honda technician to listen to my clicking noise and he also thinks its coming from the alternator. possible bearing worn.

looks like a recon unit is on the cards as im not paying silly Honda prices :lol:
 
a reconditioned alternator has been fitted and the clicking has now stopped....

apparently it was the bearing in the clutch which so i traded my old unit for a recon and its now sorted :)
 
Good result pal. I will keep this in mind for future
 
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