Click, Click, Click (interior noise)

[ShoshTrvls]

Lately I've noticed an irregular clicking sound (almost like the sound of a switch going on and off) coming from the passenger side and it's driving me NUTS. It definitely comes from under or near the passenger seat, happens whether or not there's a passenger in the car, and has some relationship to acceleration/speed but, as I said, it's irregular. It'll "click" when I hit the gas after stoplight "A," but not after stoplight "B." It'll click again if I slow down -- sometimes.

I've made sure that the passenger seat is properly in place (that is, not between adjustment settings), that there's no random piece of visible metal striking something, etc.

Anyone have any additional thoughts on what might be causing this?

[John_H]

I have some annoyance from the unoccupied passenger seat as well. I've alleviated the problem some by adjusting the passenger seat further forward or further back. The problem I'm experiencing is the bouncing of the car on normal road surfaces causing the seat to bounce (ever so slightly) forward and back so the seat mounting rails underneath "click" as they go from resting on the bottom of the slide to the top on one end or the other (or vice-versa).

If, while driving and hearing the clicking noise, you press your right elbow against the back of the passenger seat, the clicking should stop or be significantly reduced.

I'd love to have a fix for this myself - the seat's mass distribution just ends up making the seat amplify the normal vibrations or bumps in the car. Moving the seat forward/back or getting ot so it presses against the back seat-well wall might help. ...or jamming something between the seat back and the back wall.

Please let me know if this was "it."

- John

[retiltxet]

CV Shaft?? Unlikely though

[millergw]

I heard a clicking noise for about an hour straight and went away by it self. It sounded as if it was a relay tripping on and off and came from the passengers side, possibly under the dash.

[tovilin]

When the car starts, it makes a clicking sound because the ABS system is doing a test. If it last more than a few seconds then I would start to worry.

[Macaw]

I think the gas tank is underneath the passenger seat so it could be the fuel pump....

[JPaul]

It's a vacuum pump for the gas fumes recycling system, located on top of the gastank, just under the seats. I think.

[smartSEATTLE]

Originally Posted by JPaul

It's a vacuum pump for the gas fumes recycling system, located on top of the gastank, just under the seats. I think.

I think the valve you are referring to is the purge control valve, that is located back in the engine compartment on the passenger side and yes it does make a very noticeable noise at an idle.

This could be what you are hearing. Does the noise go away when you accelerate and come back at an idle?

The fuel pump is located directly under the passenger seat but I would not suspect this as the noise as it would not tend to come and go.

Might sound kind if silly but look to make sure there is not something loose under the seat. You made reference that the noise is related to acceleration.