So I keep looking around running searches for someone with my concern. Basically what I have since getting my 2009 Outlander new is that every morning when I start the car I hear a very loud click. This same click can be heard drive down the road at less then about 30 mph beyond that either road noise drowns it out or it goes away can’t tell. It sounds like when an electric fan comes on, and windows up is clearly heard. My deal says its normal and they all do it, but I can’t believe that this can be the case and no one has asked on the board about it.

I have never heard anything like this in any of my prior cars, 1987 SAAB 9000, 1988 Merkur XR4TI, 1994 Honda Accord, 1995 Audi 80, 1997 Audi A6, 2005 Mini Cooper, 1989 Montero, 2006 Jaguar X-type so its got me worried a bit.

Am I just as crazy as I think?

 

There are numerous things that can cause clicking sounds...how did you isolate it to the transmission? You haven't really described when it occurs, how frequently it occurs, etc. If you have A/C on, it is normal for the clutch to engage/disengage in stop and go traffic.

 

It may be the anti lock brake reset...

It will happen when you first start out and will sound like a clunk sound...But you will only hear the sound once when you first start out....

Just my 2 cents.....

 

Ok so I did a lot more listening and thinking about what I am hearing.

As and example, driving up hill, in slow moving stop and go traffic windows up, I hear what sounds like the click from the AC coming on in my old Montero, when the AC is off. I seems to happen stopped dead at idle, or creeping along at 10 – 15 mph. It also happened reliably like this. Go out to the car and start it up, sitting in park, get out take off coat and put it in the back seat, it clunks. In this case its within the first minute more like 30 seconds of start up so I don’t think it’s the fan coming on. Most mornings I don’t have the coat and it clunks while I am backing up, or in some cases once I get rolling forward again.

As to my thoughts on the transmission well not sure why I think that, as I can’t tie it to given transmission mode. I have tried 2wd 4wd 4 lock etc. Even in tiptronic mode. What I do notice is a slight jump in rpms when it clicks.

Hope this detail helps. If you care was making this noise you would notice it, esp if you have the windows down. It is not a soft little rattle type of thing.

Thank you,

 

These systems run the AC compressor to dry the air anytime you have air directed at the windshield. Try the same thing with the heating/cooling system completely off. The fact that the RPMs change strike me that the AC compressor is being used. You don't have to have the AC turned on for it to run the compressor.

Another option would be to find the AC compressor clutch and unplug the connector to it. Then you'll know for sure if that's the issue.

 

Interesting about the HVAC system using the compressor to dry air when it’s blowing on the defrost settings. In past cars I would always turn on the AC when the windows were fogged up to help defrost them. Most of the time I do leave the vent selected on defrost blowing lightly as I like the fresh air but am not a fan of having it blowing directly on me. I wonder if that also has an impact on my MPG?

Will test and post the results.

Thank you,

 

TCP, you hit the nail on the head. It's the AC compressor clicking on and off. I can sleep easy, got to love this board. :-)