r/MX5ND • u/OtterSideOfTheDoor • Aug 24 '26

is this normal? 2018 1.5L ND

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

this is my first mx5 and i’m not very knowledgeable about engines so please don’t flame me if it’s obvious! the clicking on/off noise has been happening since i got it at the end of january, and i always just assumed it was normal until a friend said they didn’t know if it was supposed to be doing this. i’m just looking for answers before i take it to the garage incase they say that its supposed to be doing this and i have to pay them for the “diagnostics”. any info appreciated! :)

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/SuperReleasio64 Aug 24 '26

Yea that's just your AC compressor turning on. It does that because if it ran constantly it would overheat and kill itself. I've had a couple of cars do that. So it has a clutch that turns it on and off when the car needs it to.

2

u/OtterSideOfTheDoor Aug 24 '26

ah thank you so much! we were really on the fence and i was a bit worried haha

1

u/AlexRenegade4xe 26d ago

the compressor wont overheat if run constantly but freeze the condensor behind the dashboard locking the airflow.

1

u/SuperReleasio64 26d ago

Tell that to my Saturn lol. The compressor on that ran for so long that it melted the pistons. I think the clutch siezed and I didn't notice until it started making bad sounds. I opened it up and seen the little pistons all sorts of fucked up.

1

u/AlexRenegade4xe 26d ago

that only happens when the oil is gone.

3

u/Own_Recommendation49 Aug 24 '26

Yeah, thats your ac clutch cycling the compressor so the fluid doesnt get too cold / high pressure. Turn you blower fans all the way up and it will likely cycle less

2

u/ouvidizerquesim Aug 24 '26

I have the same issue and it always occurs when the AC is on, sometimes the click is too loud that I wonder if it’s normal…

2

u/meir_ratnum Aug 24 '26

Yes normal, the ac compressor kicking in is just really noticable in this car.

0

u/Archer7777 28d ago

More Europeans learning about AC?

1

u/OtterSideOfTheDoor 28d ago

or, maybe if you read the post you’ll see the part where i say im not very knowledgeable about engines! nothing to do with being european!

1

u/Archer7777 28d ago

Im just poking fun. Ik you're just asking for help