Sorry guys but I have a problem with my 91 n/a. This car is my daily driver and this problem just started today. I drove to my destination with no problems. I go to leave and I start my car up no problem then suddenly a ticking noise (tick tick tick..etc) just starts up right on the passenger side of my car inside. It sounded like it was coming from under the kick panel (about where the ecu is) or even above it under the glove box. I tried turning my car off and on but it didn't fix it. This is the first time i've ever heard of this problem. I'm not quite sure where to look or what to do to fix this annoying sound! It drives me crazy cause I don't even have a radio in it yet! I'm almost possitive its coming from inside the car and not the bay area. Anyone got any ideas on what I should check? Thanks.

 

Sounds like a relay going crazy... notice any electrical devices not working all of a sudden? I'm not sure which relays are under the dash on the pass side... try snooping around in the factory service manual, i'll have a peak as I need to check mine anyways.

 

my car does that 2 it not constant but like click click.....................click click like thatreally annoying

 

I think that your lifters are ticking. I had a DSM that had bad lifter tick, and it sounded just like that!














I completely agree with Poor_Red_Neck, and it's probably a relay. If you just start the car (or turn the key to run if it does it then), you should be able to locate the fried relay pretty easily.

good hunting!

 

Just as an extra suggestion, if it isn't a relay it could be the door speaker or a dash speaker with a bad ground. It's possible that it could be picking up ignition noise.

Just remembered something. My right speaker started ticking when my battery went bad. It may have something to do with the fact I had to run on the alternator to get the rest of the way home. It still makes the slightest bit of ticking there, but that may be increased by using the MSD too.

 

maybe the alternator??? do the idiot lights on the dash blink or glow at all in time with the ticking noise?

 

Well thanks for all your replies everyone! I actually think I solved my problem. I was snooping around and found a yellow wire hanging down that had become disconnected from where it was spliced. Anyways, I reconnected that wire and started my car up with no clicking! Thanks again!

 

is it possible that the wire was arcing? or was that supposed to run some sort of click-supressor system I'm not aware of? C'mon, inquiring minds want to know!

 

Haha..I have no idea! The wire was apparently taped up with some electrical tape. Whats the best way to connect two ends of a wire together?

 

Two bare ends? probably a little solder and heat shrink would work best without replacing with a single length of wire from the originating(is this a word?) points.

 

I was gonna tell you that it might have been a sticky valve........glad it worked out in the end.