Can't duplicate problem at dealership - help please

[Leadfootgirl]

Hi Folks,

My car has been making this clicking/ticking noise (similar to what you hear when a kid tapes a playing card onto his bicycle wheels?). It only happens occasionally when I accelerate from a slow speed to a higher speed. I took it to the dealership the first time and they said it was a sticky speedometer so they changed that but it's still happening. When I took it back again, I couldn't duplicate it when I did a test drive with one of the service reps so I ended up not having anything done.

My warranty will be ending in late August so I want to make sure whatever problems that should be fixed under warranty are fixed. I don't want to issue to recur or get worse and have to pay for it out of pocket after warranty if possible. Has anyone experienced this or can you suggest what might be the problem so I can ask the dealership to check again? It's really bugging me...

Thanks!

[Q451990]

Is the noise definitely coming from the instrument cluster area?

I looked through the TSBs (Technical service bulletins) and found this one that might apply. There's another one for noises coming from the rear axle area, but if you're hearing from the dash, I think we can rule those out.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-M9Hn ... ExkbzdkSGM

Heath

[Leadfootgirl]

I'm not sure. It didn't sound like it came from the dash, more like the middle part of the car, maybe even toward the rear. Since I never know when it will happen, when it does, it happens so fast for like 2 to 3 seconds and it's gone. I should clarify that it happens more with sudden acceleration, but again, I can't always duplicate it either. My front brakes do need changing, I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it though.

[Q451990]

Maybe it is the axle issue then... does this describe it?

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-M9Hn ... WRQZTEtTjA

Heath

[Leadfootgirl]

Thanks Heath. Sounds like it and I hope that's the problem so they can fix it once and for all. I'll give you an update.

Thanks again!

[Q451990]

Awesome - please do update us. It helps to know what issues are common!

Heath

[XIS]

Great find, Q45 !

Leadfoot - I hope that solves it. Let us all know!!

[EXceptional]

Yes, keep us posted.

[Leadfootgirl]

Hi Guys,

No luck, the dealership said it wasn't the rear axel or maybe the service adviser just told me that instead of actually checking it because it just says they "didn't find any problems" on the service ticket. He suggested that it was because my rear brakes were down to minimum so the shims and other parts were loose.

Anyway, instead of having them replace the brakes there, I went to an independent garage a few days later that has great reviews and with cheaper prices..., the brake guy said the brakes wouldn't make that noise. After he changed the brakes and I drove it to work, it still made the noise. It's back to square one

I've very annoyed with the dealership right now, should I give up and hope it's nothing major or keep bugging them?

Thanks

[Q451990]

Oh, I would certainly keep bugging them. I would spend some time trying to find a pattern to when you hear the noise, so that you can recreate it for them more easily.

Heath

[EX-KAT-35]

Any other dealer you can go to?
I have 2 that I have tried so far of the 4 within 30 min of me.
Definitely I would have it on record so that if something happens after warranty u can get them to fix it as the original date of the issue that caused your noise.

[Leadfootgirl]

There's a dealership at Monrovia and another in Van Nuys that's within 30 minutes. I'll give them a shot. Thanks for the suggestion and the warranty records of the problem. I didn't know I can claim that after it expires.

I'm going to try to recreate the problem this weekend consistently so I can bring it in again next week.

[box_of_lego]

If the sound is loud enough ... record it on your handheld device .. you could also then , verbally indicate the speed and RPM ...

[Leadfootgirl]

Tried that this weekend using my cell phone to record the sound but there was just too much road noise, even with all the windows closed. So couldn't hear it upon playback.

I'll try it when using a digital voice recorder. Good suggestion. Thanks!

[EX-KAT-35]

Also try and find a smoother and quieter road to record on to reduce background noise.

[Leadfootgirl]

Hi Guys & Kat,

Thought I'd update you guys on my original post. I finally managed to record the sound using my new phone. It's pretty distinct and loud too. Took it into the dealership again today and the service adviser took my phone with him to show it to the service manager...the guy told him that he's "110% sure it's the Tachometer". He said it was the same part they replaced last time, but last time they said it was a sticky speedometer. Isn't that a different part?

Anyway, I told the service adviser that if it's not fixed, I'll have to come after his service manager (only half joking ). I'll give another update once they do the work and I give it some time for the sound not to appear again.

I'd like to post the short video I took with the sound but I'm not sure how to do that, would it work on photobucket or is it just for pictures?

[Teknical]

I'd like to post the short video I took with the sound but I'm not sure how to do that, would it work on photobucket or is it just for pictures?

YouTube would probably be easiest.

[Leadfootgirl]

Hi All,

As I mentioned in my last post, they changed the odometer/tachometer/speedometer again (I guess it's the same part) and no surprise, while I was driving the car home from the dealership, I hear the clicking again!

So a few days later, I took it back to the dealership in the mid-afternoon (when it seems to happen more often), and I actually had the mechanic that has been working on my car do a ride-along. Problem was I could not duplicate it so he just took the car and changed the lighted mirror assembly (this was also a recurring problem). When he drove the car back for me to pick up, he waved me over and told me to sit in the passenger seat - because he actually duplicated it so we could both hear it! WOW, I wasn't crazy!

He said he heard running water sound in the cooling system so he flushed the heater core. I've had it back for 2 weeks now but only drove it more this weekend and I haven't heard any more clicking. So I think, I hope, it's fixed. What an exhausting experience.

Btw, I uploaded a video that has the clicking sound. Check it out if you're curious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO_c-7wk ... e=youtu.be
You may need to turn up your sound a bit, but you'll hear it.

[XIS]

OK
I have heard mine do this on two separate occasions, but nothing for the last 7 months.


Read this:
http://www.infinitig37.com/TSB/1RW10.pdf

Also one of the reasons I stopped going to the Camelback dealer. They refused to even look at my car unless I could bring it in with it making the clicking noise at that time. They said if they can't hear anything, there is nothing for them to do... even AFTER I produced the TSB above.

[Leadfootgirl]

Wow, that TSB is right on. Doesn't sound like yours is as bad but it might get worse in the future because mine didn't happen that often in the beginning either.

Dealer said the same thing to me when they couldn't duplicate it (2x) and two other times, they could, that's why they thought it was the speedometer. I just got lucky that my new phone was able to record the sound pretty clearly. Next time if it happens again, bring in a recording like I did.

Thanks for the TSB link, I'm going to print this out for my records.