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Odd clicking when car is off

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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 06:19 PM
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Default Odd clicking when car is off

Ok so some of you may know im restoring/upgrading my car right now. I was messing with the window regulator and I *finally* got the new gear bolted on. Well I tried to test the regulator out and I noticed that when I hooked up the battery and turned the key to the accessory position the car made a weird clicking sound. I thought it might of been the battery sparking or something but I looked and it sounds like its comming from underneath the car more towards the rear of the tranny. It will click randomly without me doing anything sometimes once a minute almost and sometimes 10 times in rapid succession. I'm not sure whats going on any ideas?
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 07:31 PM
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Has someone mounted an electric fuel pump under your car? I would put the car on jackstands and have somone turn the key on and listen for the noise.
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 07:55 PM
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
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Could the noise be coming from inside the rear storage compartment. Open the passenger side door and remove the plastic compartment. See if maybe the antenna relay or the defrost relay is not causing this noise. My first guess would have been the alarm relay or flasher, but on your car it's located in the console.

Post again.

Willcox
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 08:36 PM
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Willcox,

I did actually think it was comming from the storage compartment for a little while. Its already opened and cleaned out and there is nothing in it as of right now. No relays that I noticed but when I looked in there it sounded like it was straight underneath the center console.


*EDIT* After a very short search I found the relays... I tapped on one and it sounded like it could possibly be the culprit since it seemed to be stuck in one position till I tapped it. I still plan on checking it out later on... and I feel the urge to buy more Willcox products since you've helped me out through the years lol****

I can honestly describe the noise as a relay sound. I work with relays all the time and its a distinct 'click'

Right now im taking the car apart to put my new crate engine in but whenever I get it in sometime next week I might put the car on jack stands and roll under it and see if I can find out what it is. And thank you too Paul I dont know if I have an electric fuel pump under the car or not I will have to check it out.

(On a side note it might be something to do with the reason my wipers, blower motor, and headlights quit functioning not too long before I noticed the clicking)

Last edited by Kadorja; Jul 31, 2009 at 08:44 PM.
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 08:45 PM
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Ok. . . Now we got something to look for. The wipers and blower motor are on the same ground circuit. I'm kind of out of it tonight, my office computer is offline and I don't know why but the schematic for your car is located on that machine. I'll be online tomorrow and take a look at it. I'm going to load the AIM and see if I can see something on it too. The car is 1980 right?

W
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 08:51 PM
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Are you sure it's not the windshield wiper controller located on the back wall of the rear compartment. There should be two relays located there and a wiper controller.

w
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 08:55 PM
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Oh, just now saw your edit. . . . Good deal!


Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jul 31, 2009 at 08:58 PM.
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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 08:59 PM
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Yes its an 80' Ive had this problem for a while but I never had the clicking till all 3 items failed and they all failed within a few days from each other. It was when I was having new starters put on left and right *long story* but they are fuseable links connected to the starter I believe. I have some schematics in my Shop Manual and Haynes book but I have to be up for work 0415... bleh... military life is great.

Thanks for the help so far and if I can get a little headway in the matter I'll connect the battery back on tomorrow and see if I can figure out the problem.

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Old Jul 31, 2009 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Kadorja
Yes its an 80' Ive had this problem for a while but I never had the clicking till all 3 items failed and they all failed within a few days from each other. It was when I was having new starters put on left and right *long story* but they are fuseable links connected to the starter I believe. I have some schematics in my Shop Manual and Haynes book but I have to be up for work 0415... bleh... military life is great.

Thanks for the help so far and if I can get a little headway in the matter I'll connect the battery back on tomorrow and see if I can figure out the problem.

No problem. . . I'll be online tomorrow. . . .

W
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Old Aug 6, 2009 | 05:16 PM
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Ok so I got my new window regulator in... tried to test it with a 12v battery and it was no good... so I threw my battery back in my car and of course it didnt work. Im not sure if the battery messed it up or what but I think im raising my window up all the way and putting the regulator back in for now.

Now back to the main topic. I found out that it was indeed the relay clicking like crazy. I could hear it and feel it. It happens randomly still... should I read out power or just buy a new relay? I tapped it a little and checked the connections and they seem good... bubba'd a little but no corrosion to be found.
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Old Aug 6, 2009 | 07:22 PM
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Default odd

I had that situation , and it was killing my bat . It was in the wiper motor , I disconected
the wire going to it to verify that it was the culprit . If you disconnect the wiper motor , and that is the problem , clicking will stop . I haven't gotten around to fixing it , if it rains , i'll just plug 'em in for ride home .
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Old Aug 6, 2009 | 08:57 PM
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Well my issue is the wipers dont work at all. They worked intermittently and then quit... about a day later the blower motor quit and maybe a week later the headlights quit. I believe they are all fuseable links going to my starter and if the wiper control possibly screwed up my wipers and overheated that fuseable link maybe it messed up the other two also?

I might try disconnecting the wiper motor but I think the control is the culprit... hoping Mr. Willcox will come in and give me some helpful advice lol. I have a shop manual but I havent found the wiring diagrams I need yet. Worse comes to worse its a sunshine weekend car only
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Old Aug 6, 2009 | 09:16 PM
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If its a wiring problem I might be able to fix it... but if its the controller in the back I think I'm going to purchase a "Corvette Intermittent Wiper Override Jumper Wiring Harness" that jumps the controller altogether from the fuse box apparently. Its only $20 and they dont carry the controllers anymore.
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