Clicking noise after key is turned to on

[tenikiwon]

After starting or when you turn the key to on, after the beeping etc. I just started noticing a clicking noise. It soulds kinda like a relay clicking on several times and then you don't hear it again. I don't have any lights or problems that would explain this. The sound seems to come from somewhere between the gas pedal to the center console.

 

[BAYDOG]

Not to worry, it's the anti-lock brakes doing their self check and diagnostic. They all do it if ya listen .

 

[tenikiwon]

I guess

But I KNOW this started the other day. And unless it got noisier this is different. The ABS I hear, but never made a clicking noise, but I guess it could be.

 

[jimbo74]

maybe you just never noticed it... relays click a ton when the car is switched to the on posittion

 

[justin146]

Mine used to do that when my TC shift motor was bad. Ford told me that the TC does a self-test every time you crank your truck. Mine stopped after replacing the shift motor.

 

[tenikiwon]

That would make more sense. What did that cost you?

 

[tenikiwon]

Did you 4WD still work? Mine is working, but bangs during any wheel slippage or hard accel.

 

[justin146]

My 4hi worked fine, it just wouldn't go into 4lo.

 

[DonM]

Is the check engine light flashing when you hear the clicking noise?

 

[tenikiwon]

Nope

I started noticeing the clicking a couple days ago. Nothing else seems wrong.

My AUTO and 4WD make a loud bang when under any sort of torque. If I'm on absolute ice I can break all the tire loose (or one front one rear) with no noise if I ease on the gas. In 10" of ice covered snow the noise was constant (bang....bang....bang....bang)

It only happens when the front engauges. I'm guessing it's T-case related. 95K on the truck. Had the T-case flushed at the end of DEC.

 

[justin146]

Does your 4lo work?

 

[tenikiwon]

Last time I checked it did with the banging.

I'll try again tonight and let cha know.

 

[tenikiwon]

Rock ON and bad news

You were right NO 4LO

We have enough snow to be slippery and All I get is AUTO and 4WD NO LOW. If I was in 4WD first it will stay in 4WD but the gearing doesn't change.

The bang only seems to happen when it first engauged or when I disengauged it. I was in our work's parking lot, but it seemed to be in 4WD and spinning the tires without constant banging.

 

[tenikiwon]

Additional Note

I've been reading through the post about shift motor and T-case problems and most are for GEN 1, but I assume there are MANY similarities. One I found interesting is about the alternator giving enough juice or needing a battery.

While doing some work on my car I noticed my battery would die after a short amount of time with the hood up and/or doors open. I went to batteries plus who tested and said I probably have an alternator problem, but though my alternator was fine, but the wireing could be dirty. When driving my batt meter (on GPS) said 13.9 or 14 Volts so I would assume it's ok? Any Ideas?

With the shift motor can I take it out and drive with it out? Or does it have to be done in one day?

Would like explain the banging?

 

[tenikiwon]

Banging

On my residential streets I put it in AUTO and watched the light pulse as it sent power to the front. No noise, put it in 4WD and no noise unless I punched the gas or really got going where there was a good amount of torque being applied. I'm almost positive the clicking has something to do with the 4WD and my 4LO problem, 'cause I heard it click once when it switched to 4WD.

Is cleaning or replaceing the shift motor going to help? Or don't know 'til I try it?

 

[justin146]

I drove mine for a while without 4lo. The shift motor will be about $400 if you have the dealership replace it.

 

[TPLYNCH]

There is a TSB for harsh engagement in 4-auto on the '97's I believe. The fix is a reprogramming of the GEM. Not sure if anyone mentioned that to you. The t/f case shift motor setup is still the same as the first gen's, so the instructions on how to clean or remove that are on the Singleton site are still the same.