Heater noise

[Boyd Kooij]

Hi, my '73 continental is equiped with auto clima. When setting the temperature on e.g. 70 degrees, the blower motor runs faster, and reduces after reaching the desired temperature. When reaching temp, a ticking noise comes out of the ATC control box, just behind the glove box.
There's a vacuum box (the one with the strong magnet) that keeps ticking. The control lever that you see to control the blower speed moves a little to left and right, while the vacuum box is ticking.
What can be wrong? I assume, there's also a temperature feeler. Can that be the problem?


It's not a relay. Inside the alumium box, behind the glove box, there are several relays but they make no sound. At the right, there's an electrical device, with a strong magnet, that settles the vacuum. Inside, there's a coil, that moves from left to right, to regulate the amount of vacuum.
This keeps going from left to right and causes the ticking noise.
But what's the reason, that this coil keeps moving? Once the desired temperature has reached, it should stop. So, something else is causing this.

Thanx, Boyd Kooij

[chrichard99]

A company called Baker rebuilds ATC boxes. My 72 Mark makes a similar sound, but only after about 45 min. of usage. I think this may have to do with a blower motor resistor in the ATC box. I don't really know thou.

[danwhite]

Try moving the temp selector from full cold to full hot and see if your ticking noise corresponds to the units adjusting to the newly selected temp. If so it sounds like an blend door actuator problem. "this is just a guess" but is a direction to look. I'm pretty rusty on the older atc stuff.... we don't work on much of it at all anymore.

[Dan Szwarc]

If the automatic temperature works, it is normal.
These cars weren’t silent or perfect. They use crude analog electronics and often make small sounds.

I would not touch anything or take anything apart. Turn up the radio and ignore it. You’re more likely to break something.

[LithiumCobalt]

Very possibly normal behavior. The late 60s cars with ATC also chattered when they reached/around the set temperature. Not sure when the system was redesigned, but probably same basic system.

[1Bad55Chevy]

If the automatic temperature works, it is normal.
These cars weren’t silent or perfect. They use crude analog electronics and often make small sounds.

I would not touch anything or take anything apart. Turn up the radio and ignore it. You’re more likely to break something.

Damn Dan! Hit us with the 23 year old thread bump! Hopefully he already this fixed by now!

[Dan Szwarc]

I have no idea why that thread popped up for me to respond.

No clue at all.

[LithiumCobalt]

Wow, didn’t even realize. Well, the answers are there for the next guy, I suppose.

[Dan Szwarc]

OP was a 1 time poster so I thought he was new. Instead, he was a one-timer.

[1Bad55Chevy]

Who is currently the longest active user besides yourself?

[Lee]

If it isn't Tony, I'll be very surprised.

[1Bad55Chevy]

That dude Action has been here forever also..


I also haven't seen Jon Schapiro (spelling? ) in a hot minute. Hopefully he is ok.

Edit... Action joined June 9th 2003 last active yesterday

Tony joined 2004... what a noob.. lol

[Lee]

Action hasn’t posted since Sept of last year.