[DougR]

I just changed my spark plugs, so I had the car out for a test drive to make sure everything was running correctly. I had the radio off, so that I could listen for any problems. We'll when I was sitting at a light waiting to make a turn I noticed a really strange clicking noise. When I got home I parked the car and just sat there and listened to the sound, trying to figure out how often it was happening and where it was coming from. I counted that the sound occurs approximately every 3 seconds, very consistent like a clock. In fact the clicking noise sounds exactly like an analog clock ticking. It sounds as if there is a bomb in my dash or something. As far as I can tell the sound is coming from directly behind the radio area. I took out the CD to make sure that wasnt it, but the noise continued. The strange part is if I turn the engine off, but put the key to On, the noise disappears...Although the sound truly does not seem to be coming from the engine compartment. Any idea what this could be?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[jrbrangi]

its normal its the spaking plugs being cleaned with sparks, the engine sparks them to clean them, the engine notcied the difference in the new plugs so thats probabaly what triggered it

 

[DougR]

Not that I care as long as it is normal, but should I expect the noise to go away as the spark plugs get more wear?

Wow, this whole engine management system is pretty impressive. That it can recognize new plugs is pretty wild to me, but then again I am new to all this. Im just glad that you guys have kept me from blowing up my car so far

 

[TigerSilhouette]

Well, the cleaning of the spark plugs happens regardless of new plugs or not. Its called the "shower of sparks" and occurs everytime you turn the engine on, then off. It sounds more like a buzz, so the clicking is not the shower of sparks. Could the clicking possibly be the analog clock next to the radio? Also, I noticed that sometimes my climate control makes a few clicking noises since its all electronic and stuff. Mostly its the temp sensor measuring the cabin temperature and making sure you are comfortable. This is only if you have the automatic climate control. Hope this helps.

Lawrence

 

[DougR]

I don't have an analog clock, I only have the digital on the SID. This is an 02 93. This clicking is going on every 3 seconds with the engine on. I believe the shower of sparks is only on the T5 and not on the T7.

 

[DougR]

its normal its the spaking plugs being cleaned with sparks, the engine sparks them to clean them, the engine notcied the difference in the new plugs so thats probabaly what triggered it

After the last post, I have to ask. I noticed you have a 99, so that would have a T5 which has the "shower of sparks", not the T7. Were you referring to the shower of sparks too, or is this something that goes on continuously as the engine is idling? This is not just a clicking noise on ignition on and off, it is a constant noise while the car idles. Just wanted to clarify.

Doug

 

[jrbrangi]

yea the shower of sparks went you shut it off

 

[DougR]

yea the shower of sparks went you shut it off

Oh, this must be something different then, cause this clicking noise is while the engine is idling.

 

[jrbrangi]

i get a clicking when I have my wipers set to intermittent

 

[TigerSilhouette]

ya me too, that is the relay that controls the wipers. maybe you have a relay that is clicking on and off?

 

[DougR]

Did a little more investigation, and it seems to be something with the A/C system. I first checked the purge valve, because I read that that can cause a clicking noise when the engine is hot. And last night I had been running a loop on a highway close to my house from exit to exit. I was pushing the engine pretty hard and I knew it was hot, and that the purge valve could be a suspect. I started up the car after it has been sitting all night and heard the noise right away, and then checked the engine bay to confirm. There is no way it is the purge valve. Also it is definitely nothing in the engine bay. This is coming from inside A/C panel control area(auto climate control).

So I turned the A/C on and moved the fan to the lowest setting manually, since with the auto A/C the fan was too high for me to hear. The clicking noise seemed to definitely go away when the fans are blowing to some extent either with A/C or with econ. Not 100% sure on econ cause I could have swore I heard it clicking once when it was on econ but that could have been something else. I moved it from auto a/c to a/c one fan bar to econ and back to off. I repeated this about 4 or 5 times. I heard the clicking noise consistently when it was off. At one point I seemed to notice the clicking every 3 seconds, then I timed it and it became 5 seconds, then another time it was about 3 or 4. Thing is it always stayed consistent when going back into off mode. If I started hearing it every 5 seconds it stayed at every 5 seconds till I cycled it around again.
Any ideas? At this point I am just glad this is not in the engine bay, although the purge valve would have been the best scenario, as electronics can be expensive