1996 Ford Ranger Front of belt clicks when the heater is on

STRICARUSSELL

MEMBER
1996 FORD RANGER
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
120,000 MILES

You all have helped me so many times before; I have a question about a clicking noise when I turn on the heater. I looked under the hood and saw that the from of one of the belt pullies would stop rotating and then the click would come when it starts turning again. It stops rotating after about 30 seconds and then you hear the click, and it rotates again. When it clicks, it sounds like the engine is about to stall. The heater sounds like it only heats when the clicking happens, then stops heating when it stops rotating. Any ideas?

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 AT 2:30 PM

3 Replies

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

I didn't understand what your heating problem is.

But the click sound and the pulley spinning and then stopping is the Air Conditioning compressor cycling.
They do that when you have the heater turned to Defrost.

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Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 AT 6:36 PM

STRICARUSSELL

MEMBER
4 POSTS

>>>>>>>>I guess i've just never noticed it clicking like that before. Is that supposed to be happening?

The actual heating problem is that it only seems to blow hot air when I am accelerating. If I am idle, it cools down. I thought the clicking might have been the issue but you're telling me it's something completely separate? Thanks for the quick response!

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Sunday, January 4th, 2009 AT 1:06 AM

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

Yes, it's normal when you have the heater controls set to defrost. The AC system removes moisture from the air. And thus helps the window to defrost faster.

That's symptoms of the coolant system having air trapped in it somewhere
or
a warn water pump (but unlikely)
or
a clogged heater core.
Or
bad heater control valve.

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Sunday, January 4th, 2009 AT 3:17 AM