Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I have an interesting problem. there is an odd sound coming from the engine compartment under the passengers seat. It seems to be associated with the throttle or perhaps the an electrical part which may have something to do with controlling full "injection" (not the right term) or idle speed.
i have what sounds like a stuttering relay, that seems to be getting more persistent. it sounds to me like it is trying to turn on but might not have enough power to switch completely so it stutters loudly several times, making a very electric sound (almost like an arc) when the engine adjusts it's idle, wants to change from 1st to second, and at a few other random times.

anybody had something like this? it doesn't seem to affect the general function of the vehicle, it's just doesn't sounds right at all and i want to make it stop.

Thanks
Mark

Any chance the AC is turned on? The engine doesnt really "adjust its idle" except to compensate for the load of the ac compressor. Eliminate that circuit then------ that sucks. If it is related to ac, chase it down at idle, find out what is making the noise, let us know from there.

you nailed it. i thought i had the a/c off, but apparently i had it on. turned it off and viola, no more stuttering relay. thanks a lot. now i also know how buttons work. in = on. out = off. silly me.

now to replace a burnt out headlight. always one more thing.

Ok, but now the noise. Is it coming from the engine (ac compressor) or under the dash (relay). The sound could be the compressor clutch not shimmed enough therefore it cant pull in and lock, causing the noise. If that is the case, fix it asap or you will destroy the clutch (if it hasnt already) and probably overheat it and melt the electromagnet.
Or the noise could be belt tension,
Or the noise could be a bad bearing in the compressor.

the noise is coming from the engine seems directly under the passengers seat. So, when it is a bit less wet everywhere i will have to get in there and have a look at the compressor i suppose. until then i will not turn on the a/c (that will avoid any further damage, yes?).

thanks for the quick response. i hope it is not too far gone once i get a chance to get in there and have a look. i have spent a whole lot of hours working on this van since i got it two weeks ago.

-all the Bars/bumpers, paint stripped, and powder coated. rubber and plastic cleaned and mounted.
-carpets removed until it's less wet out so i can do the 1/4 panel seam seal (as well as what ever else i can seal up. i plan on hitting the front end with a hose on a dryish day once i have some talc inside)
headlight replaced, (now i'm looking at getting some "high vibration" lights to avoid frequent burnouts).
stereo replaced and sub wired in.

i wonder if the sub wiring has anything to do with the a/c malfunctioning. i did a very thorough job on it, and the amp is not high powered. I have to think that wasn't it.