Clicking noise in dash.

[cdkarp]

99 DI 104,000 miles

I took a 1000 mile trip over the weekend and noticed an annoying click from the dash. Every 6 seconds there is a click, like some kind of relay, coming from the left side of the dash? Did not make a difference if the cruise was off or on.

Has anyone else ever noticed this?

 

[RRCNicky]

My classic has clicked like a mf for over 3 years now, regularly but still random. Don't have a clue why, but haven't had any problems so I'm just letting' it ride!

 

[EJB90]

Mine clicks like every 90 seconds or so I would guess. I am assuming its a really. Wind and radio noise seems to drown it out.

I hate when it rains- there is the intermittant wiper click coming from the passanger kick pannel, the rear wiper relay from the dash. Turn on cruise control and you'll hear clicks for that.

 

[KevLar]

Mine clicks like every 90 seconds or so I would guess. I am assuming its a really. Wind and radio noise seems to drown it out.

I hate when it rains- there is the intermittant wiper click coming from the passanger kick pannel, the rear wiper relay from the dash. Turn on cruise control and you'll hear clicks for that.

A while back when I was troubleshooting my ABS, I had to turn the ignition to position II (aka Key On Engine Off = KOEO) frequently and wait for the ABS blink codes to cycle through. I noticed that about 5 - 10 sec after the key was turned, I would get a single click from a relay in the passenger kick panel. If I remember correctly this relay would click after the electric fuel pump had stopped priming.
That's the only relay clicking I've heard on my '96. I don't think that a relay constantly clicking on & off is normal, so that clicking relay might be getting intermittent power, or there is some sort of computer/sensor related fault somewhere. Additionally, repeated cycling of a relay like this is bound to shorten its life significantly... I would want to at least identify the culprit for a start.
Kev

 

[cdkarp]

The A/C was not on.

 

[ptschram]

Did you think to open the dash up and listen/look to find which relay was making the noise? It's most likely a relay doing something it shouldn't be doing. Knowing which one it is is the first step to finding out what it is and why it's doing it!

 

[Ronnie]

Yeah, but that takes work! Can't you diagnose it from 1000 miles away without ever seeing the truck. If you can, mine starting doing this exact same thing last week and it would really save me some time from looking through the service manual

 

[cdkarp]

Problem solved, I called Eric at Trailhead 4X4 and he told me to check the rear wiper switch. The switch was pressed in and since my rear wiper motor does not work the relay was still going through its normal cycle.

What an Idiot I am for not looking at something as simple as that.

 

[ptschram]

Can't you diagnose it from 1000 miles away without ever seeing the truck.

Like I don't already do that enough?