Strange noise behind dash

[FFMan]

I woke my 1994 Griff 500 from hibernation at the weekend and used it for the commute today.

All good except for a strange intermittent sound from behind the dash. I thought at first it was dash creaking but then i thought its more relay clicking or stepper noise. The idle was on occasions a tad high but then settled.

Is the likely sound stepper trying to move or are there other relays behind the dash ?

[Argent]

FF

The stepper motor doesn't click (normally) it winds in and out, you can here it resetting when you turn the ignition off, so more likely to be a relay but most of them are down in the passenger footwell on the fuse board so possibly it's the immobiliser?

A

[BIG DUNC]

There are some relays behind the dash as well, although most are down in the footwell.

[Classic Chim]

Heater pipes creaking from air in the system is another possibility from the description.

How’s the water level in your expansion tank. If that was a bit low you might have drawn a bit of air into system when it cooled after initial start up last week.

[FFMan]

the main thing different today was the interior fan and wipers were on. the noise didn't coincide with wiper movement and wasn't that regular.

i checked the water level and it was fine, the expansion tank about two thirds full.

what do the relays behind the dash control ?

[BIG DUNC]

I have no idea, but on my car at least, they are there. They do look original rather than something that someone has added.

They are over on the passenger side end of the dash, so near the centre of the car.

[wuckfitracing]

Odometer click ?

[FFMan]

too random for odometer.

will listen out for it next outing hopefully in the dry.

[Steve_D]

Relay behind dash may be central locking...and would click if one of the door switches was intermittent/moving slightly.
Try touching the door switch (with door open) and see if you get the same click.

Steve

[mikanel]

I had a clicking in the passenger footwell, turned out to be the little servo motor for the heater valve was driving continuously against the stop causing the gears to jump.

Mike

[FFMan]

i'll be driving it in the dry (I hope) tomorrow so will be interesting to see if it still does it.

[MisterT]

Steve_D said:

Relay behind dash may be central locking...and would click if one of the door switches was intermittent/moving slightly.
Try touching the door switch (with door open) and see if you get the same click.

Steve

^ This. Sounds similar to my experience when the passenger door was not fully shut and the lock relay kept clicking in and out as the car went around corners and the door moved

Edited by MisterT on Friday 6th April 22:06

[Steve_D]

MisterT said:

Steve_D said:

Relay behind dash may be central locking...and would click if one of the door switches was intermittent/moving slightly.
Try touching the door switch (with door open) and see if you get the same click.

Steve

^ This. Sounds similar to my experience when the passenger door was not fully shut and the lock relay kept clicking in and out as the car went around corners and the door moved

Edited by MisterT on Friday 6th April 22:06

The clicking can be quite annoying when kneeling beside the car and working in the footwell and keep brushing against the switch.

Steve

[Colin RedGriff]

MisterT said:

^ This. Sounds similar to my experience when the passenger door was not fully shut and the lock relay kept clicking in and out as the car went around corners and the door moved

Edited by MisterT on Friday 6th April 22:06

If it is the door switch it cold be the pad stuck on the door, that the switch pushes on has fallen off.