cavalier 96 weird noise from compressor

[vintage_car]

Still a noob on this.

The compressor will kick on eventually, but before it does it makes a noise, almost like a timer ticking down, then clunck...wait 5-7 seconds and it does it again...finally it catches and starts up and cools... what is the issue I'm looking at.

[collecture]

Sounds like it is failing on you! Hope I'm wrong!

[johnieG]

sounds like your start-run relay is struggling to kick in the compressor, it may be due to the relay itself has corroded or pitted contacts, or the compressor is just starting to show its age, the fix is to replace the original start-run relay with whats known as a booster-starter relay (also called a 3-in-1 starter) this will usually get you by for quite a while, but if the compressor is getting ready to go bye-bye, then remember that this is really just a temporary solution which may last 5 minutes, or five years. but certainly is worth the $20 odd dollars you'll spend on the 3-in-1 & about 45 minutes of your time.

[vintage_car]

where can I pickup this booster relay...I'll try that first.