clicking sound

[kevtherev]

evening all. i am getting an intermitent clicking sound from behind the dash. i've had a search and most of the similar problems seem to be recirculate flaps on d9's with the mfd, and their sounds are from the passenger side, gears wearing etc
the clicking sound is like i say intermitent, sounds like its coming from just above the fuse box in the drivers footwell. The best way i can describe the sound is like the indicator click but goin really fast. when you turn the heater dial (with the engine off) i can hear things turning behind the dash, and the fault appears to only happen with the heater cranked up full. mine being dial controlled heaters and blowers it wont have the gears.(will it??)
really just after any pointers as to what to look for when i strip the dash to have a look,probably wont be able to see anything if the fault isn't occuring at that time sorry for being a little vague...
thanks in advance

[ZilogJones]

Your description sounds like a relay. I don't know if there is a relay related to the heater on yours, do you have aircon?
I have a D9 so not sure how similar things are, but I hear relays for the rear window/mirror heaters, aircon, stereo, lights, etc. from that general area.

I have manual heater controls on mine too, and the heater dial is connected directly to some cables or whatever that control the heater matrix flaps.

[kevtherev]

Your description sounds like a relay. I don't know if there is a relay related to the heater on yours, do you have aircon?
I have a D9 so not sure how similar things are, but I hear relays for the rear window/mirror heaters, aircon, stereo, lights, etc. from that general area.

I have manual heater controls on mine too, and the heater dial is connected directly to some cables or whatever that control the heater matrix flaps.

i thought it might be a sticky relay, but wouldn't really know what i was looking for lol i guess will have to leave it till something stops working as i can't really see how i would find the relay in question if i can't recreate the fault. might have a gander if the weathers ok at the weekend..
thanks for your help

[mjb]

The only thing I can think of round there on a D8 is the indicator relay which should be located below the right-hand dashboard air vent

Have you checked if your indicators are flashing when this happens?

[kevtherev]

The only thing I can think of round there on a D8 is the indicator relay which should be located below the right-hand dashboard air vent

Have you checked if your indicators are flashing when this happens?

thats where the noise is from as you say mjb, to the left of the dash airvent and above the fuse box.is it the relay that produces the sound for the indicaters? if it is that would explain why it sounds like the noise is the indicators doing 100mph. indicators work fine, and they dont flash when the noise is happening. next time it happens i will test the indicators and see if it affects anything, but may be a few weeks as it is very intermittent. will keep you posted, thanks for the input

[mjb]

Next time it's happening, try pushing the hazard light switch. If the lights flash properly (both sides of the car) while the mad clicking's going on, then it's nothing to do with the indicators and you should try other electrical things like the windows, windscreen wiper, horn, electric mirrors, etc until you find something that either doesn't work properly, or stops the mad clicking.

If pushing the hazard switch stops it, or fails to light the indicators, then chances are it's the switch that's shot. Be aware that your indicators won't work properly while driving!!!