A/c Problem

[Evan_R33]

Hey all.

Probably heard this before but the search tool is as useless as tits on a bull so i didn't bother.

I have this clicking noise behind the dash (S1 33) on start up.. sounds like a shaft popped out or something. Just wondering if anyone has come across this before and what they did to fix it! cos it sh!ts me to tears.

cheers

Evan

[R33_Rob]

i have the exact same problem on my 94 R33 GTS. Sorry mate don't know how to fix it. I will be watching this space.

[RANDY]

Very common R33 problem. There are several threads on it. It is your heater unit which requires removing the entire dash (EVERYTHING) to fix.

Someone has written an EXCELLENT guide on how to do this, but you need to allow for a minimum of 4 hours to pull it apart. I guess you need 4 hours to put it back together.

And before you ask, no... it will do no harm to leave it like that. Mine does it and the heater flap still works fine. It's a sensor that has no contact anymore. The flap moves and should press two contacts together to indicate the end of the movement, but the contacts are dirty or broken, so it keeps trying to push further until it times out and stops. So it still functions correctly.

Mine will do the noise if I switch to "feet". Test it out and see if you get it then as well as startup.

[SECURITY]

i dont think its a sensor, its the motor that opens and closes the flap (im not sure if thats what you meant randy).

i've got a pic of the gears inside the motor somewhere when i did it. one of the gears were completley chewed. i'll get a pic up tomorrow.

[d00dz]

Ya my car has this noise too. Its annoying at first, esp when new people sit in the car.

But afterawhile you get used to it.

[RANDY]

Security: Not sure, just what I have read. Although the gear would be chewed from the constant clicking as the gear keeps trying to turn. I'm sure there must be some way for it to know when to stop moving?

So anyway, I just guessed that there would be a dead contact in my heater unit that wasn't telling the gears/motor when to stop turning.

Seems people replace their entire heater unit when this happens? I haven't seen or heard of anyone actually fixing it themselves without replacing the whole unit.

[SECURITY]

i dont know why you'd want to replace the whole unit.

its just that small part that opens and closes the little flap that is the problem.

[blind_elk]

What happens during startup if the A/C is off, ie if you turn the A/C off before stopping the engine?

[Evan_R33]

The A/c in my car resets itself whenever yoiu turn the car off.... so it's always the same thing when you start up. or like was said earlier if you switch to feet. It is pretty annoying and i would llike it to go away!

As far as pulling the dash out.... that sucks. I'll have to get motivated and look for my self. (same old story, mechanics car is the last to get looked at!)

Cheers for the Info guys. now i know where to start looking!

-Evan

[blind_elk]

The reason I raised the point is that in my experience the A/C is active at startup, UNLESS you pressed the OFF button prior to shutting down the engine.

Have you tried that?

[siddr20]

Someone has written an EXCELLENT guide on how to do this

Got link??

[RANDY]

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=85225

In the DIY section. 1st link in that post is the process.

3rd file has images.

[baron25]

I know i risk sounding like the biggest idiot for this, but does the heater work straight away on startup? Mine's made this clicking noise for ages, but when i finally needed the heater this morning it didn't blow heat until the engine warmed up, and i don't remember if it used to do that, it's been that long since i needed to use it.

[siddr20]

OK what i wanna know is, to get rid of this clickin noise we replace the whole heater core or fix the sensors or the flaps??

Lol anyone in sydney wanna help me over a weekend!!

But leaving it like this, will it wreck anything over time??

Edited June 10, 2006 by siddr20

[SECURITY]

its as wrecked as its going to get. only thing that will happen is the unit thats doing the clicking will keep clicking. i'd offer to help but its something you'd only want to do once LOL.

[siddr20]

What do u mean security?? "Youd only want to do once lol"

[SECURITY]

ive already done it to my car and i really dont wanna do it again.. when you finish you'll know what i mean.. its a bitch of a job.

[OZ_Pomy]

yeah i had this same problem it is one of the biggest pain in the ass jobs for such a little part to be replaced the part you need is like a little actuator thing with an arm on it and i think its the cogs inside it get stripped over time

Baron25 - Your heaters should work once your car is warmed up not straight away.

Here is a picture of the part that needs to be replaced to get rid of the clicking noise. It is the bit with the green square around it the bit with the yellow circle around it is the heater setup with the heater core in it. I bought the part (just the bit that clicks not the whole heater) of a person on hear for like $60 and the problem was solved. You will need to pull all the pillars, dash, everything in the dash, Centre consoles, stearing wheel and possibley the front seats out. Theres a guide on hear somewhere on how to pull the dash out which was extremely useful. Good luck with the job if you need any help at all give me a pm.

cheers iLEC

[SECURITY]

this is the gear thats stuffed... i guess if you got the same gear and replaced it you could get it running again without spending the $$ on a new AC unit.