Weird clicky "on-off" type noise - how odd!

[June]

On Saturday I picked up my new car, a 1998 Bravo SX and totally love it already (it replaces a 15-year old Fiesta so bit of a result!)

Has anyone ever noticed the Fiat making a weird noise, seemingly from the boot? When the car was running this morning, I noticed a strange sort of intermittent clicking noise, almost an “on-off” click coming from the back. When I parked, leaving the ignition on but the engine off, it continued. With the ignition totally turned off, it stopped. I turned the ignition again and climbed in the back but couldn't work out where it was coming from. Then I got out and opened the boot, the only thing electrical thing I can see in there is the light. However, when I shut the boot and got back in the front, it was clicking again but this time really manically for a few seconds, then it slowed down again to intermittent. The only thing I can think is that it is something to do with the boot light, but there are so many stalks and buttons I am worried that I have switched something on that I shouldn't have. Obviously once I switched off again it all stopped.

I will have a look in the manual tonight, but does anyone have any ideas? I am a bit new to all this electrical stuff and obviously still getting used to the car, so I notice every little noise and am probably over-worrying. But any advice would be much appreciated!!

 

[Chris B]

Rear Wiper

I've had this before myself. It's the rear wiper motor. Don't ask me why, but from time to time it does "click" even when the ignition is off. It's one of the quirky features Fiat add to their cars to keep you on your toes.

 

[Nick]

Re: Rear Wiper

Probably a bad/dirty contact with the metal connecting panel that you can see when you open the hatch. There are some spring loaded pins that stick out from the hatch that connect with this. Make sure both are clean and make good contact.

 

[patrick]

Rear wiper

Got to agree with Chris, its the rear wiper. I t did it with me a couple of times, its just part of fiats in car entertainment system

 

[rowan skinner]

Re: Rear wiper

mine started to do it when the wet weather started.
So i removed the motor and stripped it all down and rebuilt it, I also refitted the washer that stops water getting in, Since it has been ok.

 

[exrovermech]

Re: Re: Rear wiper

u'll find it's the parking mechanism on the rear wiper motor it normaly does this bcos the wiper blade has stuck to the rear screen, perhaps car has been standing for some time.

exrovermech

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Rear wiper

Its normal for new car...probably is your eletrical fuel pump that produces the noise situated at the fuel tank. Try to fill the tank full....will reduce the noise!!!! i think

 

[jym]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Rear wiper

rear wiper!!! nothing to do with the fuel tank.

just fiddle with the switch for the wiper a bit and it'll stop. it won't stop permanent (or at least it hasn't for me) but it won't do it for the duration of the journey.

 

[Anonymous]

ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP

I can bet on this.. it is the fuel pump, , immediately after we on the ignition switch, the pump will trigger. This occurs when the pressure in the fuel line drop after we switch off the ignition switch. If you left the switch on for more 5 minutes without starting the engine, the relay will cut the supply to the fuel pump as for safety measure for the fuel pump and on again as you start the engine.

The noise will slow down to intermittent when the pressure reach to certain level. This is the automatic characteristic of the fuel pump so that the pump can last longer and supply constant pressure to the fuel injector. If the pump do not has this kind of characteristic the fuel line will burst due to high pressure! The fuel pimp is located at the fuel tank not at the engine. Thats why you heard mild noise at the rear of your car indeed.

As for your case, nothing to do with the rear wiper. If the rear wiper produce the noise, the sound will produce constantly no intermittent.

 

[chris]

Re: ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP

Its definitely the rear wiper. Happened to me - couldn't work out where the noise was coming from, so I tried all the switches and hey presto it was the wiper.

 

[Deckchair]

rear clicking

Yes go with the wiper. It's the wiper self parking switch (can happen on front wipers too)where the wiper, perhaps dragging on a dry screen ) han't quite parked and is "just off" the switch contact so the motor pulses a fraction, gets cut off by the park switch but the flexi wiper drags it back a fraction hence the cycle starts again. Use your washers and let the wiper park properly and end of story.

 

[chris]

Re: rear clicking

This is definetly the rear wiper. it happens on mine, and i tell you what gave it away........



pay attention........




keep going...........






Funnily enough it clicks every time the rear wiper moves from the parked position. Hard to comprehend i know.

nothing like a bit of p*ss taking in a morning.

 

[chris]

Re: Re: rear clicking

Also the fuel pump doesnt click, it makes more of a motor sound and bubbles. either that or my fuel pump is sh**ged

 

[Anonymous]

Rear Wiper

My car doesn't has rear wiper ...why discuss on the rear wiper .....he! he! he!! lol!

 

[Nigel]

Grundig MCD36

is what you need and turn the thing to loud. Cant hear a damn thing then.

I am really surprised at Fiat that they didn't fit a Cd player and head unit that played loud only - it would save so much time fannying about with their poor build quality to stop the rattles.

Maybe that is what they missed with f awful Stilo! There you go, I could be the saviour of Fiat as we know it.....

 

[nathan]

rear wiper

This is definitely the rear wiper, I have had it happen to mine a number of times and it has resulted in me purchasing a new motor as mine eventually siezed up. The other writers on here are mostly correct in that it is how the blade has parked, try cleaning the blade and pushing it a little further to the parked position, but ultimately the motor could do with stripping out. One of the cogs on the motor has metal contacts on it, if it doesn't return fully, it is the motor attempting to move the blade again, if the car is under guarantee, take it back and have them either fit a new motor or strip the present one out and regrease the mechanism.

 

[June]

Thanks Guys!

Just a little note to say a big THANKS to everyone who has posted a reply to my question, you are all stars.

I have found that the advice of switching the wiper on and letting it fall to its natural stop position, then switching it off again seems to work well, and having spoken to the previous owner this is what she found worked as well. I have got used to it now and stopped worrying, so thanks all of you for reassuring me! As one of you said (which made me smile) it is just part of Fiat's in-car entertainment system - in fact I think it is my car's way of singing along to the stereo (okay now I really have lost the plot!) Hehe

Anyway, happy driving all of you (I love my car, it's just so cool, am a very happy bunny!!)

June x

 

[Andy H]

Re: Thanks Guys!

Notice the only people who have claimed to know wot the problem was and were wrong have been anonymous? Made me chuckle when i noticed.

Anyway happy click free motoring - ive just made a similar triumph over my rattly rear seat mount