2009 Honda Civic 1.8 GT Type S iVtec

[vxvectra05]

Hi everyone, I brought a 2009 Honda Civic GT Type S 1.8, drives great! Engine sounds smooth and over all the car seems to be in great condition.

However I have noticed one thing which is making me feel a little concerned and currently the car has 3 months warranty from the second hand dealership I got it from.... Yesterday I was the driving the car as normal and it drove fine, however when I got to KFC drive through and got stuck I put it into neutral with the hand brake up and every minute or two the engine made 1 click/tick noise which was fairly loud, almost sounded like a switch been flicked, and it was literally every 1/2 minutes just one single click. When I drove off from the drive through it was fine no clicking no nothing.

Does anyone have any idea of what it could be? Or is it just normal (never owned a Honda before).

Thanks.

[waynecyclist]

Sounds like the air con compressor, mine is the same

[LightningBlue]

My Volvo does it, nothing to worry about. I had one of those by the way, they still look great and the cabin design is the best Honda have produced in my opinion

[vxvectra05]

waynecyclist said:

Sounds like the air con compressor, mine is the same

Thanks for the reply mate, my air con was not on at the time, however the heating was set to about 27/28 if I remember correctly. Would the Aircon compressor still make the click noise?

[vxvectra05]

LightningBlue said:

My Volvo does it, nothing to worry about. I had one of those by the way, they still look great and the cabin design is the best Honda have produced in my opinion

Yes the interior design is great, much better than other cars I've owned, I really like the car, the only slightly annoying thing is that the front splitter scrapes on absolutely everything 🤣 I was just a little worried that something was wrong with the car as I've never had a car click once every minute or so before whilst parked with it running, and I thought if it's a issue best to sort it before warranty expires, did your Honda also do it when you had one?

[waynecyclist]

vxvectra05 said:

Thanks for the reply mate, my air con was not on at the time, however the heating was set to about 27/28 if I remember correctly. Would the Aircon compressor still make the click noise?

Yes as it is the clutch on the compressor kicking in and out as I said mine is a 2008 and is the same.

[DanielSan]

vxvectra05 said:

Thanks for the reply mate, my air con was not on at the time, however the heating was set to about 27/28 if I remember correctly. Would the Aircon compressor still make the click noise?

They do. My FN2 Type R was exactly the same. It's nothing to worry about.

[MattyD803]

It's when they stop clicking you need to worry, as that is when the compressor clutch/solenoid has given up.....I had the same engine (albeit 200cc larger) in my CRV and when the AC stopped working, it was the clutch solenoid which had gone. It is very common these engines/compressors, because as I understand, the much reduced system volume on the refrigerant system means the compressor is almost continuously cutting in and out.

On the upside, replacement solenoids are only £120, and on the CRV at least can be fitted with the compressor "in situ".

Edited by MattyD803 on Wednesday 3rd November 15:25