Clicking Noise In Dashboard When Car Is Off – Why?

Clicking noise in dashboard when car is off is not a good sign. It’s a common issue causing drivers frustration. If you’re having this problem, the article is for you.

The clicking noise in dashboard can be due to a broken blend door actuator, AC leakage, faulty starter, etc. Does it sound complicated to you?

Don’t worry. We’ll provide you with more details about these possible reasons and how to fix them.

Clicking Noise In Dashboard When Car Is Off – Causes And Solutions

Blend Door Actuators Problem

clicking noise in dashboard when car is off due to Blend Door Actuators Problem

A bad blend door actuator is the most common culprit of the dashboard clicking noise.

There are multiple of these small electrical motors, delivering the air out from the right place with the appropriate setting temperature.

Adjusting the heating knobs options makes the parts start to move and mix cold and hot air in a correct ratio.

When something is wrong with the actuator, the door can’t move properly, leading to the actuator clicking when car is off.

Follow these steps to find out which actuator is malfunctioning:

  • Turn off and let the car cool down.
  • Disconnect the suspected actuator.
  • Turn on the accessory mode.
  • If the clicking sound is still there, repeat the process until the annoying sound disappears.

Once you’ve found the culprit, you can choose to remove the gear inside when it’s broken or replace it with a new blend door. Buying a new one is not really expensive, and it’s advisable if the part is damaged.

Leakage Of The AC Unit

Leakage Of The AC Unit

When you hear a knocking noise coming from dashboard, you may want to think of a leak in your AC system. It leads to the AC compressor working overload, especially in the winter when it needs to heat up the cold air.

The issue happens to both old and new cars. A leak can also appear in the passenger cabin when the water is stuck inside.

Other issues with the cooling system, such as low refrigerant levels or dirty air filters, also produce clicking noise in car dashboard when AC is on.

Fixing these problems is complicated, so you’d better bring your car to the repair shop.

The mechanic will diagnose, spot the leak, seal it, and emit the noise. All you can do is check the air filter to ensure it’s the source of trouble.

Faulty Stepper Motor

Faulty Stepper Motor

A stepper motor is a small electrical one located inside the instrument dashboard.

There are multiple of them, and all of them move in very precise increments to accurately measure the engine’s RPMs and miles/ kilometers per hour. 

One faulty stepper motor can be the reason for the clicking noise in car dashboard.

Since the full rotation of the motor consists of several steps, when you hear the sound, it means the component skips some steps.

The stepper motors can be seen in both old and new cars using analog instrument panels. Besides, in the old cars, there are magnetic pins to assist the motor movement and record the car’s speed in the odometer.

A loose magnetic pin also creates a clicking noise behind speedometer. It’s suggested to find a car electrician to help you disassemble the dashboard, find the damaged stepper motor, and repair or replace it depending on the condition.

Damaged Battery

Damaged Battery

Why is my dashboard making a clicking noise? A damaged battery may be the answer you’re looking for. In this case, the problem lies in the engine, not on the dashboard.

The battery can’t provide enough electricity for the starter to spin the engine; thus, you may hear a clicking noise on dashboard when starting the car. Inspecting your battery is the solution.

Open the engine and look for any corrosion on the battery. A drained or insufficiently charged battery may have white stuff (zinc sulfate crystals) on the negative terminal.

You can also use a multimeter tool to ensure enough voltage (the good result should be 12,6V or above).

Examining the alternator is recommended since a broken alternator is the source of the drained battery and other electrical issues, such as the car electrical system shuts off while driving.

Broken Relay

Broken Relay

A defective relay can manifest loud clicking noise from dashboard. There are more than 20 relays used in the car’s interior; they’re mostly placed under the dashboard on the driver’s side or in the engine compartment.

The electrically operated switches are used to turn on/ off the starter motor, horn, lights, wipers, and other heavy-duty circuits. Clicking noise in dashboard when car is on indicates the life span of the relay is going to end.

The fixing method is quite simple. You should first locate the faulty part and read information in your manual to replace it with the correct one.

Detect the damaged relay by listening to its sound. If you find where the sound comes from, remove that relay and put in a new one. As long as you do it correctly, the rattling sound will not bother you anymore.

Malfunctioning Starter

Malfunctioning Starter

What is the clicking sound in my dashboard? When you hear a loud click but not multiple ones, you can assume your starter has a problem.

It’s normal for your starter to wear out after 40,000 to 200,000 miles of use, probably leading to the loud click.

A damaged starter also indicates a more serious problem, such as the car won’t start after turning off, that you need to address as soon as possible.

If you luckily start your car after pressing the start button many times, you still need to drive your vehicle to the repair shop and get a diagnosis.

The cost of replacing the new component, of course, escalates when you put things off, so you’d better do it earlier to avoid an expensive charge.

The worse case is you ignore the sound and get stuck somewhere. Calling a tow to head to the auto repair is a must.

Uncalibrated HVAC System

Another reason for the noise issue is the uncalibrated HVAC – Heating, Ventilation Air Conditioning system.

The system consists of sensors, motors, and actuators, controlled by the HVAC control module. When the sensors cause a false reading, the module miscalculates the position of the heater motor, leading to clicking in dashboard.

Recalibrating the heater motor is a way to solve the issue. If your car doesn’t require a bidirectional scan tool, you can follow the below steps for recalibration.

  • Switch on the ignition.
  • Press to turn on the auto button, then again turn off the ignition.
  • Remove the HVAC fuse from its box for one minute.
  • Switch on the ignition
  • Leave the HVAC system for a few minutes to activate its relearn mode.
  • Restart the car.

If the clicking noise in dashboard when starting car disappears, you’re good to go.

Conclusion

A faulty blend actuator door accounts for 90% of the clicking noise in dashboard when car is off. The other reasons are a broken relay, damaged stepper motor, or malfunctioning AC system.

When you drive at high speed, you may not notice the sound, but the abnormal noise in dashboard when car is off is quite obvious, and you should not leave it unsolved.

In addition, using the manual, avoiding idling, and having a regular inspection can prevent your car from different problems.

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