I got into my car earlier this evening and when I turned the key a fast paced and repetative clicking sound came from the fuse area in the interior of my 94 se-r. Does anyone know what this is?

A side note: My lights were really dim when I got in but as soon as I reved the motor it was fine.

Get your battery and alternator checked - in that order. One of them sounds like it is on it's last legs.

so, clicking is something that happens when one of those things is going out?

Originally posted by purist
so, clicking is something that happens when one of those things is going out?

My guess would be that the clicking was actually one of the relays by the fuses. I had the rear defrost relay go bad, and it would drain. I would follow Probedude's advice and get both checked; if either one isn't obviously weak, then I would look at one of the relays.

Josh

ok, so the next question is how do you know which relay is bad? Is it visibly bad? Are there any relays that typically go out? Is there a way to check them to see if they are bad?

My car did the same thing 2 weeks before my alternator died.

Well, I have a volt guage in the car and it reads at about 14 pretty consistently. Don't scare me. This would be my 3rd alternator if that is the case.

Originally posted by purist
ok, so the next question is how do you know which relay is bad? Is it visibly bad? Are there any relays that typically go out? Is there a way to check them to see if they are bad?

When I bought my car, it didn't have the rear defrost. fuses installed so should have been a key, but I put the fuses in and my battery was dead the next morning. I honestly don't know how to test a relay (I tried testing for continuity and everything), but to make a long story short, I pulled a diff't relay at the junkyard and then pulled mine out. My original relay would rattle, so that was made me really wonder. My best guess would be to pull one relay out at a time, and see if the clicking goes away.

HTH,

Josh

Or just feel the relays one at a time, you will be able to feel the contact opening and closing.

Sorry for the retarded question, but what do you mean. Do I turn the car on first?

Do whatever makes the clicking noise appear.

Where are you getting your replacement alternators from?


Originally posted by purist
Don't scare me. This would be my 3rd alternator if that is the case.

Originally posted by purist
Sorry for the retarded question, but what do you mean. Do I turn the car on first?

Yeah do whatever makes it click and you should easily be able to feel it in the relay that is bad.

OK. So the clicking gets faster with the RPMs, and when there is more electric power required for things. My volt guage reads about 14 normally, but when the clicking is happening it only reads 12.

All the lights are a bit more dim, the ABS light, brake lights, and battery light all come on too. Then all of a sudden the cicking stops, the lights go away, my headlights brighten up, and the volt guage reads 14 volts. Weird. Is this the sign of a bad alternator? Relay?

One more thing. Sometimes the car starts up without the clicking happening at all. Weird, huh?

ALTERNATOR!!

Now once again, where are you getting your replacement alternators from?


Originally posted by purist
OK. So the clicking gets faster with the RPMs, and when there is more electric power required for things. My volt guage reads about 14 normally, but when the clicking is happening it only reads 12.

All the lights are a bit more dim, the ABS light, brake lights, and battery light all come on too. Then all of a sudden the cicking stops, the lights go away, my headlights brighten up, and the volt guage reads 14 volts. Weird. Is this the sign of a bad alternator? Relay?

How are you so sure it's the alternator? Has this happened to you before? Why would the alternator be affecting a relay to the point that it would click? Why does the alternator start working for no reason after it's been clicking for awhile?

I'm done here.

Let us know what you find out.

Originally posted by Probedude
I'm done here.

Let us know what you find out.


Dude thats kinda f%&ked up. Why don't you answer and try to help him?:confused:

Originally posted by AaroNX
Dude thats kinda f%&ked up. Why don't you answer and try to help him?:confused:

He did answer and attempt to help him but he asked where he was getting his replacement alternators from and the kid ignored him. He asked agian nicely and the kid ignored it once again. hes obviously just flustered that the kid wont answer his question.

Mike