Loud clicking noise with engine running

Good Afternoon

I have owned my c3 for 7 years now, and has been a brilliant car, however this week it has started to make a really loud clicking noise when the engine is started.
So when I turn the ignition, no noise, when the engine starts ,it click LOUDLY, (similar to one of those contraptions you used to see at the old football matches). This lasts for 5 seconds or so, stops and goes again for 5 seconds. It sounds as though it is coming from the left hand side of the steering wheel, on the console.

I called to my mechanic on the way home from work when it first did it, he listened and said, oh I haven't heard that sound before and he looked under the bonnet whilst I started the engine , he couldn't hear a thing and said that it wasn't mechanical and it was fine to drive.

Once it has got over its " clicking" it drives normally, but I'm just a bit worried and alarmed when I get into the car.
I have taken a video, but not sure I cam upload it on here?

Thankyou in advance for any help x

Caroline2404 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 2:23 pm Good Afternoon

I have owned my c3 for 7 years now, and has been a brilliant car, however this week it has started to make a really loud clicking noise when the engine is started.
So when I turn the ignition, no noise, when the engine starts ,it click LOUDLY, (similar to one of those contraptions you used to see at the old football matches). This lasts for 5 seconds or so, stops and goes again for 5 seconds. It sounds as though it is coming from the left hand side of the steering wheel, on the console.

I called to my mechanic on the way home from work when it first did it, he listened and said, oh I haven't heard that sound before and he looked under the bonnet whilst I started the engine , he couldn't hear a thing and said that it wasn't mechanical and it was fine to drive.

Once it has got over its " clicking" it drives normally, but I'm just a bit worried and alarmed when I get into the car.
I have taken a video, but not sure I cam upload it on here?

Thankyou in advance for any help x

Hi

You have to upload to youtube, make it public there and then share it here.

How to share a video or sound file with the forum?


It could be the air conditioning or heater air re-circulation motor solenoid as this is in the position you pinpoint. Its safe to drive if it is the solenoid, you may find your heater/blower doesn't behave as it should.

Caroline2404 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 2:23 pm started to make a really loud clicking noise when the engine is started.
So when I turn the ignition, no noise, when the engine starts ,it click LOUDLY, (similar to one of those contraptions you used to see at the old football matches). This lasts for 5 seconds or so, stops and goes again for 5 seconds. It sounds as though it is coming from the left hand side of the steering wheel, on the console.

Does the climate control have a re-circulation button? The options are a button or a lever.

If it has a button, then it might be the re-circulation servo attached to the air distribution box. This 'electrically' selects re-circulated or fresh air. The teeth of the gears can break and make a ticking or clacking sound as the servo attempts to move. All of the servos (if you have them) move around on start up to check that they are working. They tend to make a humming sound behind the dash for a few seconds on startup. Try pressing the air re-circulation button and see if you get that noise?
The servo is located behind the dash, above the drivers left foot (RHD) where the outside air comes into the cabin.
If that's the case, the servo needs to be replaced.

The other thing I have found is the OEM (clarion) CD player can 'buzz' or clatter(?) when you open the drivers door. It doesn't effect it's performance but it's annoying. I don't have fix for that.

Thankyou for the replies

Here is the youtube video
https://youtube.com/shorts/vdawshen9eg?feature=share
Thanks in advance
Caroline

Wow that's loud! Haven't heard that before!

Does it have a button for the re-circulation?

Can you put your head in the drivers foot well and see if you can spot whats making the noise?

I still bet that you have the "digital" climate control! Is that right?

So sorry for the late reply, working nights is not agreeing with me right now!!

Well... I press the recirculation button and it stops the clicking, if I turn it off it does it again but for a shorter time?

Thanks

Caroline2404 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 4:09 pm So sorry for the late reply, working nights is not agreeing with me right now!!

Well... I press the recirculation button and it stops the clicking, if I turn it off it does it again but for a shorter time?

Thanks

In that case it is the re-circulation actuator.
A replacement would be like this.

Thankyou for that!! You have been a great help...
Is it easy to fit and am I doing damage driving it whilst it needs replacing?

Thanks again

I don't think you will do any more damage. It is already broken by the sounds of it. You may just disconnect it (pull the plug on it). That will silence it and you may never realised that recirculation button doesn't work. And just leave it like that?

Here is picture of the area of the re-circulation actuator. As I said, this is above the drivers left foot. There can be up to 3 actuators on the air distribution box, but I don't know what you will have.
If you decide to replace the actuator you will need a set of "torx" screwdriver bits to undo the screws. You may also need to remove one of the other actuators first. As you may be able to see, the actuator I labeled #2 is in the road.
The electrical connector to the offending actuator can be removed quite easily by pushing the tab in and removing the connector. As C3car says, if you haven't noticed that the air re-circulation isn't working, then you could probably live with out it.