Is it normal for the ECU to 'click'

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

sometimes when I'm driving my car, I notice a 'clicking' sound coming from the ECU, then when it stops the car seems to run differently.
1/ Is this normal?
2/ Does this happen to anyone else?
3/ What is it?

No error codes are shown,

Colin

[Doctor Bob]

theres nothing in the ECM that will make any mechanical noise?
theres no relays in the LH kick panel, unless its on LPG some installers put the relays for that in that area.

Rob

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

i will try to get someone else to drive my car while i stick my head under the dash and locate the exact spot, but it seems to be related to the ECU. the noise isnt like a relay clicking on/off but like something is tinkling/scratching on the road when i drive (nothing is hanging down!), the sound is related to car speed, not engine speed, and when it stops, there is definately a click from the ECU area and a difference to the way the car drives, it feels more responsive, like it was a bit rich and is now leaner??!! WHat is open and closed loop, is this possibly what I am noticing?
Colin

[greenfoam]

There's nothing near the ECU that can make a noise except the wiring loom hitting something and even that's unlikely because there is felt insulation in there. It's just a ciruit board in a box with no moving parts. Open loop is where the car is running on calculated fuel ratios and closed loop is when asking the O2 sensor what the fuel ratios are like to try and keep 14.7:1 so the emssions are ok (that's at part throttle and cruising around). You might be feeling the Torque converter lock up the gearbox, you can feel that if you are sensitve to changes in the car

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

there is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY a click from the 'passenger side under dash area', that relates to a feeling that I could release my foot slightly from the accelerator, and still maintain the same speed. I am NOT in blue D, so it will not be overdrive related. Prior to the click, there is a (have to have the stereo off, the fan off, its so quiet) sound that is car speed related, not engine speed, that is like a rapid switching or clicking sound that speeds up and slows down with car speed, coming from the same general area it seems......
So to summarise, this weird sound stops after a click from the passenger side of the under dash area. Im always the pilot so its hard to stick my head down there and maintain speed, and i have tried!
Colin

[Doctor Bob]

a stone in the tyre?

[fitzy2005]

:S maybe take the top off the ecu (uses tamper proof screws i think) and make sure memcal is in properly and see if anything is shorting out maybe, i dont really no, seems like a relay too me but none over that way

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

bob, thats not fair! and, this happened with the old ECU too. I will post when I have located the exact location of the sound.

[Doctor Bob]

is it consistent (there all the time)?
does it change on different road surfaces?

[fitzy2005]

is it an electrical click like a relay? because it could be a bearing plate in the suspension or anything..

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

the noise is consistent till a click from the passenger side under dash, then it stops, maybe it starts again after ive been at the lights waiting im pretty sure, it sounds like a tv geiger counter, you know that clicking noise, and it speeds up and slows down with the engine speed. Could this be immobilizer related, i just shoved that up under the glovebox recently (well firmly attached, but you understand) I thought it was a rattle from the dash, till i noticed it stopped after a click! (not vietnam click, noise click!)

[Doctor Bob]

hard to say, i dont think its electrical, due to it being road speed related
really hard to say without hearing it.lol

[S Pack]

look in ur glove compartment for something loose....i thought i had problems til i found out it was the rest of the good old thumb tacks for myhoodlining fallen out of the box.

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

UPDATE sounds like its coming from the engine bay side of the firewall, and its not just engine speed sensitive, its load sensitive. The noise is loudest when I have have the car under load, like takeoff from the lights, speeding up after slowing down? there is a definate click that signals the end and start of this noise. Has anyone else got this noise in their VP?

[greenfoam]

I still think it's the torque converter locker, it shouldn't make a noticable noise but it's a good theory?

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

I can make the sound with the car not moving, i.e. quick presses of the accelerator pedal in gear in the drive way, with the handbrake on. Still think TC?
Colin

[88GreenVN]

Do you have an electric arial? My click came from a faulty arial relay thingy. Had to hold the up button for about 5-7secs (and click) for the arial to stay up. after a while the arial would just go down by itself. Replaced arial. Click gone...

[sircruisealotVS]

nice idea, with it being the aerial...but it doesnt explain the sound coming on under load/acceleration.

[LAID BACK]

i know this may be very irrelevent but i get a loud ticking noise when i drive which becomes more consistant when i accelerate, but this only happens when my air con is on so i think it may have some thing to do with being re gassed or somethig? just an extra idea

[88GreenVN]

Got to be a relay of some sort??? Clicks come from that type of thing.

Probably not related but I had a jingle type rattle that sounded like the aerial and turned out to be the bonnet latch being loose. I pulled the front off the car to find what it was. No good!!! Put it back together. Had a mechanic sit in the car for a run over some bumpy road and he found it. 5 seconds and the bonnet was tight and no rattle. Sooo the the thing is noise can transmit inside the car and can come all the way from the bonnet latch.

[mikemastelero]

I have a similar experience, my VZ SV6 has a clicking noise sounding to be coming from where the relays and fuses are but sort of behind it. The sound didn't come away even though I've removed the key and all accessories are off. I though that it may be the security unit or just a "normal" Holden sound.

Then, one day after not using my car the entire day prior, my car wouldn't start. I rang up Holden Assist to jump start the car and took it to the service department. Lo and behold! They said that there's nothing wrong with the alternator and the battery, even though I rang Road Assist for a jump start! The clicking was still there but they said that it's not a problem since non of the relays near the fuses were pulsating/making the clicking noise.

As soon as I got home, I went under the dash, closed my eyes, and listed for the clicking. It was coming from under the driver's seat! It turned out that the switch that makes the seat go up and down is stuck and the relay is clicking... and slowly draining the battery.

All is fixed, now!

[evil_monkey]

i have experienced this clicking sound in a few vs commodores ive been in only when the a/c is on seems to click on and off with the compressor