Strange ticking noise after shutdown
04-26-2010, 06:47 PM
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Strange ticking noise after shutdown
After returning from a "spirited" drive today 
i experienced a strange ticking noise after turning off the ignition. It sounded like two relays going on/off constantly an strangely the noise appeared to come from under the seats? My ears could have been fooled, but the noise was loud enough to be heard 10 feet away from the car.
I thought it might be related to the electric seat/memory function or the central locking, so I shut the driver door and fiddled with the seat and locks but the sound continued. Then I turned on the ignition (without starting) and the sound went away, turned off the ignition and the sound came back. Tried this a couple more times with the same result, then fired the engine and shut it off a couple times and suddenly the sound was gone and did not come back. No error codes on dash.
Anyone experienced the same, or got any ideas what it might have been? I take it as a sign of something about to fail so it would be good to get prepared.
Btw it's a "daily driver" 1990 ROW S4 Auto, but the last month it's been used for daily short trips by my wife instead of my usual highway commuting, so I suspect it might be related to a failing battery, I remember the voltage meter seemed a bit low.
Another issue that I have noticed lately, the heater only blows cold air until I set the heat to maximum, then it starts to blow hot air. Should I expect a leakage behind the dashboard or is this just a internal heater valve problem? The engine/water temp is usually around 85 degrees Celsius, and the water level is checked daily thanks to a slow leaking radiator end cap.
i experienced a strange ticking noise after turning off the ignition. It sounded like two relays going on/off constantly an strangely the noise appeared to come from under the seats? My ears could have been fooled, but the noise was loud enough to be heard 10 feet away from the car.I thought it might be related to the electric seat/memory function or the central locking, so I shut the driver door and fiddled with the seat and locks but the sound continued. Then I turned on the ignition (without starting) and the sound went away, turned off the ignition and the sound came back. Tried this a couple more times with the same result, then fired the engine and shut it off a couple times and suddenly the sound was gone and did not come back. No error codes on dash.
Anyone experienced the same, or got any ideas what it might have been? I take it as a sign of something about to fail so it would be good to get prepared.
Btw it's a "daily driver" 1990 ROW S4 Auto, but the last month it's been used for daily short trips by my wife instead of my usual highway commuting, so I suspect it might be related to a failing battery, I remember the voltage meter seemed a bit low.
Another issue that I have noticed lately, the heater only blows cold air until I set the heat to maximum, then it starts to blow hot air. Should I expect a leakage behind the dashboard or is this just a internal heater valve problem? The engine/water temp is usually around 85 degrees Celsius, and the water level is checked daily thanks to a slow leaking radiator end cap.
04-26-2010, 07:09 PM
#2
After returning from a "spirited" drive today i experienced a strange ticking noise after turning off the ignition. It sounded like two relays going on/off constantly an strangely the noise appeared to come from under the seats? My ears could have been fooled, but the noise was loud enough to be heard 10 feet away from the car.
I thought it might be related to the electric seat/memory function or the central locking, so I shut the driver door and fiddled with the seat and locks but the sound continued. Then I turned on the ignition (without starting) and the sound went away, turned off the ignition and the sound came back. Tried this a couple more times with the same result, then fired the engine and shut it off a couple times and suddenly the sound was gone and did not come back. No error codes on dash.
Anyone experienced the same, or got any ideas what it might have been? I take it as a sign of something about to fail so it would be good to get prepared.
Btw it's a "daily driver" 1990 ROW S4 Auto, but the last month it's been used for daily short trips by my wife instead of my usual highway commuting, so I suspect it might be related to a failing battery, I remember the voltage meter seemed a bit low.
Another issue that I have noticed lately, the heater only blows cold air until I set the heat to maximum, then it starts to blow hot air. Should I expect a leakage behind the dashboard or is this just a internal heater valve problem? The engine/water temp is usually around 85 degrees Celsius, and the water level is checked daily thanks to a slow leaking radiator end cap.
i experienced a strange ticking noise after turning off the ignition. It sounded like two relays going on/off constantly an strangely the noise appeared to come from under the seats? My ears could have been fooled, but the noise was loud enough to be heard 10 feet away from the car.I thought it might be related to the electric seat/memory function or the central locking, so I shut the driver door and fiddled with the seat and locks but the sound continued. Then I turned on the ignition (without starting) and the sound went away, turned off the ignition and the sound came back. Tried this a couple more times with the same result, then fired the engine and shut it off a couple times and suddenly the sound was gone and did not come back. No error codes on dash.
Anyone experienced the same, or got any ideas what it might have been? I take it as a sign of something about to fail so it would be good to get prepared.
Btw it's a "daily driver" 1990 ROW S4 Auto, but the last month it's been used for daily short trips by my wife instead of my usual highway commuting, so I suspect it might be related to a failing battery, I remember the voltage meter seemed a bit low.
Another issue that I have noticed lately, the heater only blows cold air until I set the heat to maximum, then it starts to blow hot air. Should I expect a leakage behind the dashboard or is this just a internal heater valve problem? The engine/water temp is usually around 85 degrees Celsius, and the water level is checked daily thanks to a slow leaking radiator end cap.
Just to ask the silly question: the ticking noise you hear, isn't just the exhaust cooling off?
04-27-2010, 05:59 PM
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I recharged the battery during last night and the relay ticking noise was gone today, problem solved, and she runs like a champ
My car need a grounds cleanup and maybe a new ground strap, and this combined with a tired battery was most likely the cause.
Thanks for the feedback.
Hi Go-carter, nice to see another Norwegian here I hoped it was just the exhaust ticking when I first noticed the sound outside the car, but when entering the cabin the sound was unmistakable a relay, I've spent a couple hours upside down with my head in the passenger footwell so I recognize a relay tick when I hear it
My car need a grounds cleanup and maybe a new ground strap, and this combined with a tired battery was most likely the cause.
Thanks for the feedback.
Hi Go-carter, nice to see another Norwegian here
I hoped it was just the exhaust ticking when I first noticed the sound outside the car, but when entering the cabin the sound was unmistakable a relay, I've spent a couple hours upside down with my head in the passenger footwell so I recognize a relay tick when I hear it
