A/C Ticking
 

Morning all! Since I’ve had the car this ticking noise when running the AC happens once in a while. Any clues as to what it is? Doesn’t effect performance just super loud.

Wow, that is not a noise you want to hear from your engine. This stops if you turn the a/c off?

I would check the obvious--is the belt okay (not rubbing or hitting anything), tensioner, idler pulley. And it's no the radiator cooling fan hitting anything? If it's not any of those then it sounds like the compressor failed internally.

+1 on the above. Sounds like metal on metal to me.

Yup only when AC is on and not all the time. Just sometimes but it if I cut off the AC it goes away.

only coming from this side too. The other side is quiet. So it’s like something is hitting the fender on the driver side.

Then I would suspect an internal problem with the AC compressor as mhamilton suggested.

Am by no means an expert, but if running your A C is the only time of the noise happens.
And your noise is not, from any of mhamiltons list of things, that you need to check, first thing.
Seems the compressor is the only thing left.
Rotating mass engaged making the noise.
But isn't the compressor set up, unlike the typical, A C compressor set up?
Our compressors are different in some way, if my memory still works right.

10-4 guys thanks!

Good luck. It looks pretty labor intensive to get the AC compressor out according to my workshop manual as the engine has to be raised.

Thats on V8 engine.

Have yet to look at manual for removing the ac compressor yet.
The alternator removal says about the same thing, but it's on the other side.

When I removed my alternator thats what I had to do.

With the AC compressor you have to also disconnect the steering linkage which is something I absolutely could not do!!!

I was trying to replace the engine mounts while in there and had to give up. I was at the stage of causing damage with the force I was using.

Sounds right, the right side drive talks about this step for the alternator removal.
Just what stopped you with ac compressor, motor mount removal?

There was not enough space to get the drive shaft side motor mount out without disconnecting the drive shaft to enable that side of the engine to be lifted
about an inch.

No matter what I did I could not loosen the clamp of the steering gear from the steering shaft. The bolt used to press the clamp firm around the splined shaft was removed
but the splined shaft would not, even under a lot of pressure, move up and out.
In the confined space there was little to use to lever against except the steering valve assembly itself and I was afraid of damaging that.

There is some corrosion on the splines, so soaking them will probably be necessary, to separate.

Well this sounds just straight terrible. Maybe I leave the ticking until it finally quits

What is your mileage?

If you decide on getting the work done you might want to consider replacing the engine supports. They are not at all expensive and most of the labor will have been done
by the time the compressor is removed.......IF the problem is the compressor.

+1 on the engine mounts. You already have to unbolt them to lift the engine and the driver side mount has to come out to remove the compressor.
It will only add 10 minutes to the job tops.

I would try to narrow down the source with a stethoscope before pulling the compressor..

+1 on that you do need to confirm that it is indeed the compressor.

Ya talked with a local friend mechanic and he said it could be something as silly as a metal pipe banging at certain engine idle. So I’m gonna dig in deeper

Lets hope he's right, those simple, easy fixes, are the best ones.