Hi Guys My First Post Hope for some help Please...

Magna VRX TJ Year 2000. 96000 KM (all the Belts were replaced as was the tensioner and H20 Pump)(Ironically the noise started after this and a slack a/c belt)

I have one Clonk the first time of the day that I start the car (ac engaged). This is coming from the AC compressor. I have been told all sorts by various AC Mobs. Air Gap on the clutches of pulley, Nahhh Mate you need a new compressor because something's adrift inside (I think this one is th least likely as is a quick and single clonk) The best diagnosis was... Errr I have no idea that's a new one...bring it by.

The noise is a tiny clonk when the ac cuts in for the first time in that day, generally if I turn it on when on idle, however it's a lot louder if I am running up around 2000 RPM and I hit the ac switch.

Personally the air gap (which apparently can be adjusted by shims) makes the most sense and less of a rip-off suggestion...

Another guy suggested a new clutch for $ 495...ohh but it includes gas.

Any diagnostic suggestions or past experience shared...would be most welcome.

Thanks
Arooga1

Would love to hear the responses to this as my KJ does it and always has and mistubishi always tried to tell me this is normal for the kj's onwards due to a different compressor. All my other pre KJ radas are silent.
Difference is that mine does it every time the compressor enguages.

my tj does the same thing

Sounds to me like the AC motor kicking in. Sounds pretty normal.

Compressors accumulate wear on the clutch over the years. The gap widens and it starts to clunk. The loudness of the clunk is a good indication of how worn the clutch is. Nothing to worry about.

In SA we don't use our air cons much and they don't get noisy until the car is 10 or more years old. In Q'land they get noisy much sooner, as they get more use. Reshimming the air gap might be an easy task, depends on the construction of the clutch.

Hi Thanks for the replies so far, Disciple this is a lot more than clicking in and at around 2000 RPM it sounds like I have driven over a steel drain cover with a crack in it. MadMax that theory could well be the cause......and for the remedy? Is the fellow that suggests shims etc correct? can they be shimmed (or shims taken out in this case) as opposed to the other mob that wants to put in a $ 495 clutch which seem so very expensive......What will the consequences of leaving it as is be (will it worsen break belts?)...Again this is only a slight clonk at idle speed cold and once only not every time the system clutches in and out as required.. Cheers Arooga1

my tj does the same thing

+1 mines a 12/2000

Just leave it, completely normal.

So if its only post TJ that make the noise, Why dont you get a pre TJ compressor and then get it re-gassed?

My diamante is 20 years old and A/C makes no weird noises, TR aswell when A/C was hooked up. Another compressor is about $70 from the wreckers.

It's pretty much random, I feel. Some go clunky, others don't. Do Mitsu make their own compressors? Maybe some brands or models are more prone?

My 2 TSs are dead quiet but they don't get used much. Haven't been gassed up for decades either! lol

My TW a/c has had a clunky engagement ever since i got it with 39 000K. Reported to Mitsubishi, told it was normal and would not replace under warranty. Car spent the first 4.5 years of it's life in Darwin so A/c used pretty much full time all year round. It now has 95000K and has not deteriorated.I only notice it when the car is stationary.

my tj does it too.... was considering machining the clutch faces and adjusting the air gap sometime when its quiet at work... should do the trick
if it was internal to the compressor then the noise would be there most or all of the time with the compressor engaged, if it were the compressor clutch bearing then it would noisy with the clutch disengaged. i stand to correction but it looks to be easy enough to remove the clutch without removing the compressor... worst case would require removing the engine mount and dropping the motor.

I would doubt it gets worse with more use.
MY KE and KH are silent and have never been turned off since brand new.
MY KJ has the loud clunk and once again, has never been turned off and has also done it since new.