I'm really needing some help on this one,

 

I have a very weird sound coming from the passenger side behind the dashboard. It sounds like a mouse chewing through wood and also an electrical interference sound. 

 

This only happens when lights (exterior) are on, or the ignition is on (for DRL's) so points towards something that controls the exterior lights.

 

I investigated this by taking off the dashboard side panel, looked through and I can see a little plastic mechanical arm moving in sync with the sound, I have no idea what it is - can anyone take a guess? 

 

I have a video of it, look closely and turn your volume up - it's much louder than the video suggests: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kurtSmW8ilP5pFf2wpcWIUrirNFdFR3s

 

Thank you for any feedback

Not a guess, - Heater flap stepper motor, they all do that sir!!

 

Try some flapaerobics, that can often unstick things, didnt work on my ticking time bomb though

9 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Not a guess, - Heater flap stepper motor, they all do that sir!!

 

Try some flapaerobics, that can often unstick things, didnt work on my ticking time bomb though

 

I cannot see how this makes sense as the noise only happens when the exterior lights are on, if I turn the lights off to the O position it instantly stops. 

 

The climate control was turned off when I filmed this so the sound wasn't washed out from the fans.

Edited 26 February, 20206 yr by JAMMYZ

I answered your request to guess what the moving lever was, except I didn't guess because I knew, its not for me to make sense of it, if I could I would but I can't so won't!

 

I also made a suggestion to stop the cycling which has worked for many but not for me, I put up with it because its a big big job to dismantle everything to remove the obstruction.

Hope that didn’t come across in the wrong way I’m just wondering why a heater flap stepper motor would be noisy only when the lights are on.

 

Can you evaluate on what I should do to unstick it?

Either use VCDS or there is a procedure where you press & hold 2 of the Climatronic buttons which puts it into self test mode and gives all the stepper motors an aérobic workout.

 

They get sticky or obstructed and cannot reach their end stops, the potentiometer indicates they have further to go so the motor keeps trying.

 

google climatronic secret test mode or similar.

 

Hidden menu!

 

 

Edited 26 February, 20206 yr by J.R.

Just a guess: the flaps are sticky, so when the lights are off the voltage is just about sufficient for the flaps to move through sufficient movement. When the lights are on, the voltage dips a little so that there isn't quite enough oomph to traverse their full movement.

Assume the car is out of warranty? 

18 hours ago, J.R. said:

Either use VCDS or there is a procedure where you press & hold 2 of the Climatronic buttons which puts it into self test mode and gives all the stepper motors an aérobic workout.

 

They get sticky or obstructed and cannot reach their end stops, the potentiometer indicates they have further to go so the motor keeps trying.

 

google climatronic secret test mode or similar.

 

Hidden menu!

 

 

Thanks for that, unfortunately it doesn’t seem the Fabia climate control can do this, or its a different way.

 

If I turn my fans completely off the noise still persists so I’m still unsure if this is the issue, like I say it’s only doing this when the exterior lights are on.

 

4 hours ago, RickW said:

Assume the car is out of warranty? 

yes car is 5 years old 

Ok. I can confirm that it must be the heater flap stepper motor and nothing to do with the lights. 
 

I think best plan is to remove the glovebox so I can have a proper look and then when I know for sure it’s that I’ll replace it as long as it’s not eye watering expensive

Have you tried a squirt of WD40? 

9 hours ago, TerFar said:

Have you tried a squirt of WD40? 

 

Will give this a go first

11 hours ago, TerFar said:

Have you tried a squirt of WD40? 

Probably better with some kind of lubricant, unless the problem is damp? 

WD40 is a lubricant. 

42 minutes ago, TerFar said:

WD40 is a lubricant. 

No WD40 is a water dispersant (WD is the clue). 

See https://www.wd40.com/products/silicone-lubricant/

WD-40 is a company that make many products.

The first ( or was it was the fortieth 😁 ) product they sold was called WD-40.

This is a Water Displacement liquid and was their 40th formula.

They also sell WD-40 Silicone lubricant.

See here:- https://www.wd40.com/products/

 

Thanks AG Falco

That's what I intended snd what I linked to. I should have been clearer in my post. Saying just WD40 was like saying just Skoda! 

Okay,

 

I've had the glovebox out today and can confirm it's the heater flap stepper motor so thank you @J.R. looks like I need a more open mind at these things.

 

The flap opens when I press the re-circulation button and it stops the noise, I cleaned it all up with WD-40 but once the flap closes (turn off re-circulation) the noise comes back, the ticking sound is gone probably helped by WD-40 but the motor is constantly fidgeting for some reason and I'm guessing it's not normal? Not sure what I can do - no point replacing the motor since it doesn't seem a problem with it. 

 

Is it normal for it to fidget like this? Heres the video: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TPbzQjYvMj4lkD2-kZoPTYyFy0Vhu7N4

Either the potentiometer has a dirty track and is not sensing that the flap has reached its end stop or more likely the flap is obstructed, there is a VCDS procedure for "learning" the limits but it never stopped mine from constantly clicking, if you have access remove the flap and see if away from any obstruction it operates correctly

 

32 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Either the potentiometer has a dirty track and is not sensing that the flap has reached its end stop or more likely the flap is obstructed, there is a VCDS procedure for "learning" the limits but it never stopped mine from constantly clicking, if you have access remove the flap and see if away from any obstruction it operates correctly

 

Thanks, I don’t think it’s obstructed in any way, it shuts tight and I cleaned the dirt around the seal but still won’t stop fidgeting.

 

Have you just put up with yours or did you replace it?

I put up with it, like a nagging partner I dont even hear it now.

 

Huge job to remove for little gain on my vehicle.

Righto, looks like i'll put up with it. Thanks for all the help

Just two points worth remembering from the Octavia version(s) of Climatronic and worth trying here.

 

1) Clicking can be caused by worn/missing teeth on the nylon gear.

 

2) Sometimes the controller needs to be reset to relearn the end limits of movement. This is done by pressing a combination of three buttons on the control panel as shown in a post above.

 

Problem 1) above can be caused by situation 2) if left too long. Worn teeth will only be seen when you take out the motor assembly.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Edited 9 March, 20206 yr by pikpilot

1 hour ago, pikpilot said:

2) Sometimes the controller needs to be reset to relearn the end limits of movement. This is done by pressing a combination of three buttons on the control panel as shown in...

 

does anyone know the 3 buttons to press to reset it? I cannot find anything on YouTube or google, and the octavia ones don’t work