Technical Ticking/Chattering Noise from interior

[dabravokid]

I've had this problem for at least 6 months now but it seems to be getting worse now it a bit cold. Basically few often I hear a fast clicking/chattering noise coming from behind the fuse panel or somewhere near. Its a bravo 100 sx 1999. Any ideas?

 

[chuck]

Hi

I have a '97 Brava, so it might be different to your problem, but sounds similar...

Does your ticking noise coincide with you using the wipers (rear ones in particular)? I have heard a similar ticking noise in this way, sounds like some relay going beserk. The ticking seems to be coming from behind the instrument cluster (or driver side engine bay). When I mess around with the wiper switch on the steering column, it disappears...but this could be just a coincident.

I tried to trace it once, but got nowhere. I am just waiting for it to do it again, then have another look. The only thing I did do was to check the fuse boxes and made sure there are no loose fuse/relays. Nothing suspicious though.

I have heard the ticking a couple of times since, but unfortunately, I could not stop to check it out.

Anyone else with any ideas ?

 

[dabravokid]

Thats exactly what it sounds like, I have even taken the cover off my fuse box to try and hear it a bit better. Mine happens more often then that though, it usually coincides with my engine over-revving (a problem I am having trouble getting fixed) maybe the two are interlinked. Is there a relay that talks to the engine management system?

 

[chuck]

Hi again,

When you say over-revving, do you mean the accelerator pedal looks like it's stuck whilst you are driving ? For example, you are driving normally, then you want to slow down so let go of the accelerator and apply brakes. You would expect the revs to drop but the engine just wants revving up !

I had this problem, and in the end I traced it to the engine bay where the accelerator cable connects to a spring mechanism near the throttle body. What I found was that the spring was sticking, thus keeping the throttle open. Probably because it just dried up so the metal against metal is catching. Anyway you can check this out if you turn the bit where the accelerator cable is attached to (fully clockwise in my case) and let go, it should spring back immediately. I found mine to be very jerky and quite often sticks when I fully turned it clockwise and hold it there for a second or two.

Anyway over that next few days, every morning, I applied some white grease around the bits that turns, effectively lubricating it. It was a lot better but still jerky at time. In the end, I got some WD40, and now it never sticks. The accelerator pedal was also a lot lot smoother (with no noticeable jerkyness at all).

I wonder if yours is this problem.

The other possibility could be the flap inside the throttle body or perhaps injector is sticking (e.g. build up of grime over time). Perhaps some injector/carb cleaner might help.

PS: I still haven't had another instance of that ticking/chattering noise. I wonder if anyone else is experiencing the similar problems.

One thing though, does rear screen wash squirt out when you use it. Mine was blocked, and when I traced it, I found it to be a blocked uni-directional hose connector in the engine bay right by a bunch of wires. This meant that whenever I applied the rear screen wash, the area and the wires around that connector was completely flooded with screen wash. So I thought maybe, it was shorting some of the wires around there. I have since replaced that hose connector (gladly the rear screen wash now works) and dried that flooded area. I just can't quite remember whether I heard the ticking noise before or after that.

Ah well, I just have to wait until it happens again...