You start up your car, ready to go, and you hear some type of clicking or knocking noise around the dashboard. It’s natural for us to get a little worried whenever we hear strange sounds, and, indeed, any new noise should always be investigated. So, what exactly causes such knocking or clicking from the dashboard?
Let’s take a look at what could be the culprit so you can get on track to rectifying the problem.
When you hear noise from the dashboard, it’s typically the A/C system. There aren’t too many parts in an A/C that will click, so it’s relatively simple to narrow down the possible causes of a clicking sound: compressor cycling or blend door issues.
The compressor in your A/C can cycle on and off, and sometimes, you may actually hear this process going on. This doesn’t always mean it’s a larger problem. At the same time, it might mean there’s a leak somewhere causing a frequent, audible fluctuation.
The blend door, also known as the vent door, mixes up the cool air and warm air that goes to your vents. All of that is controlled by an electric motor known as a blend door actuator.
An actuator is meant to move the air in the right direction, but it can, unfortunately, become stuck or even break. If the air isn’t moving, you may notice it first by a clicking or knocking sound. The entire motor itself can even breakdown, and if it stops working completely, then it can also click.
When you’re trying to understand that clicking or knocking sound from your dashboard, it helps to pay attention to everything else around it. For instance, when does it actually start clicking? You may notice it immediately after you start your car, or you may not tell there is noise until you actually turn on the heat or the A/C.
You can also focus on whether or not the air conditioning is actually working. Do you feel the air coming in? Perhaps you feel something, but the output is not as strong as it should be, especially on hotter days.
Sometimes, sounds don’t always indicate that there’s a larger issue. As we touched on before, you may just be hearing the normal cycle of the compressor.
However, it doesn’t hurt to have your car inspected to be on the safe sound. If there’s a failing with the blend door actuators, then they need to be fixed. This is especially true if you are noticing other issues with your problems with your car like the ones explained in the previous section.
Before you can make any repairs, you (or your mechanic) must know the exact issue. The entire system may have to be checked for this to happen, so it’s best to take the car to your mechanic to get it looked at. From there, the problem can be addressed. If there’s a problem with the blend door actuators, then they’ll need to be replaced. With a leak, the source will have to be found before it can be sealed.
Not every little sound is a cause to raise the alarms, but it can be a sign that something wrong is about to occur. There’s not much you can truly do in order to prevent such clicking or knocking sounds in your dashboard. A good thing to do, however, is to simply stay on top of your regular inspections.
Perhaps when you take your car in for a simple “check-up,” a mechanic can notice that something might be wrong with your dashboard. The sooner something is caught, the sooner it can be fixed. This can save you money, especially if the issue can become worse and more costly if you delay.
So, if the knocking and clicking sounds from your dashboard are becoming more frequent or you have noticed other complications in your HVAC system, then don’t hesitate to bring your car to a qualified mechanic to take a look at it before your problem worsens.
Here are other topics you might be interested in:
Guide to Car Dashboard Symbols
How To Keep Dust Out Of A Car – Keep That Dashboard Dust Free!
What Does O/D Off Mean In A Car Dashboard?
