Popping noise behind the dash..??!

[tejr]

Took the car for a nice blast yesterday, came up to a roundabout, car was 'up to temp' and I heard a crackly type of pop from the dash area. Almost like an electrical pop, I was anticipating smoke, but none appeared and no smell either? then i thought maybe it was a relay?

Anyone else experience this mystery pop? It happened a second time, again when coming to a halt.

May be totally unrelated, but the dash also developed a rattle from the passenger side little while later... Although the pop came from the middle/back of the dash and sounded totally different to a rattle...

Am I being paranoid?!

Edited by tejr on Friday 17th September 09:26

[Tanguero]

Possibly a cable loose? There is a main earth point behind the centre of the cubbyhole.

Personaly I would either investigate asap rather than take up driving with a fire extinguisher on my lap.

[tejr]

Is there an easy way to get to it? (at work at the mo, so don't have access to the car right now).

Do i need to take the dash apart?

[RUSSELLM]

Haven't got my car at the moment, but the only 'pop' noise I've ever known from that area is the one you get when you turn the cold air dial to 'on'

Or is the hot air ?

[Gazzab]

pull the stereo out and have a look in that area... plenty of cables and opportunity for shorting etc

[tejr]

Cheers guys, will take a look tomorrow.. was planning on getting the stereo out and changing it anyway (i'm guessing its just a standard ISO loom and an easy swap as well?)

Funnily enough I had the hot blower on for the first time, and for some reason thought it may possibly be related to that? but it had been on for a good 15mins at least, its not like I had just switched it off/on but will keep an eye...

[tejr]

Had a look behind the stereo, nothing obviously wrong..

Took the car out for a spin yesterday, as soon as I turned the 'hot' blower on i got the pop noise, so it seems like its related to that.. I kept it switched off the whole time I drove it and didn't hear the noise again... Sounds like the same thing as RUSSELLM.

[crackedfinger]

I get popping too. Does the number of pops match the number of dials you have in the dash? I'm convinced it's the glass on the dials popping into place when it heats up on mine.

[morebeanz]

On that theme, could it be one of the concertina pipes popping open under pressure of the fan?

[tejr]

Hmm.. come to think of it, the concertina pipe sounds like it may be on the money.. will have to keep my eye/ear out.

Only a couple niggles left to sort now! lol