Hmmm, found a lot on the forum about ticking and clicking noises but couldn't find this.

My '98 TF Magna makes a soft ticking sound that comes from just behind the steering wheel or on the dashboard.
The ticking doesn't seem to relate to speed, revs, hot or cold etc it just randomly ticks

Tick.....................tickticktick.......tick.. ...........................tick.tick...tick....... ..tick..................

Any ideas what might be causing it?

could be a relay ticking
or just something loose
best bet would be to pop your head under the dash to find where it coming from

If its the light metal-to-metal contact kind of sound it could be a relay.

Otherwise, somebody may be playing a prank and may have planted an annoyatron (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8c52/):)

Or worse case scenario, ITS A BOMB!

Thanks plenty for your responses Mr_Roberto & Life.

<googles relays>

Mate, a lot of systems rely on relays......

<looks under dashboard>

Eh, I don't know where to start.

Unfortunately, I am not knowledgeable enough to diagnose/fix this :-{
Any advice?

Is there anything in particular I should be on the lookout for? Any specific problems?
Would it be unwise to wait till the next service (10,000 KMs away) before having it addressed?

Thanks

as life said if its metal on metal, could be a relay (if you touch the relay itself you will feel it click inside...bit hard to do while driving though) although if a relay ticks, means the contacts are closing, meaning something will be turning on and off....

check passenger footwell on right hand side, there is a heater pipe that sometimes knocks gently on the trim around it

OK. Thanks for the input.


;1134350']as life said if its metal on metal, could be a relay (if you touch the relay itself you will feel it click inside...bit hard to do while driving though) although if a relay ticks, means the contacts are closing, meaning something will be turning on and off....

What are some of the most important things that are activated by relays?

Unfortunately I am new to all of this – I am happy to learn but at the moment am not able to reliably check the relays.

Would it be senseless to ignore it until the next scheduled service (in 10,000 KMs) before having it looked at?

Appreciate your advice.