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Loud ticking/clicking in right rear

Tiny
PEMATTHEWS59
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,400 MILES
A loud, fast paced noise I would describe as ticking began in the right rear quarter panel of my vehicle yesterday. It continued for most of 20 minute trip home, stopping for a few minutes and starting again. It picked right up again when I started the vehicle today and continued for my entire trip, again stopping only for a few minutes a couple of times. It is louder than radio at medium volume and it does not seem to be related to any of the dash features e.G. Stereo, A/C/Heat. My dealer would not commit w/o looking at vehicle - and collecting their $60 or $70 - but did offer that it could be a relay, or I think he said conductor, and possibly fuel related. When I advised I was not near a dealer and asked if it could be dangerous, again he would not commit. Any ideas?
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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 AT 1:27 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Does the sound seem to come from inside the vehicle or outside? Also, does it change when turning? Actually, a clicking that loud doesn't sound like a relay. At least in 30 years of working on vehicles, I never heard one that loud.

Let me know.
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
PEMATTHEWS59
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for your response. It is definitely coming from inside. I partially removed the interior trim and the noise appears to be coming from some kind of "electrical box" about 6" x 6", but there is a metal frame that I could not unbolt without taking the "whole car" apart (at least to a layman like me the rear fold down seat look like it may have to be removed to gain complete access). Update, the ticking sound still starts at ignition but now continues for only a few minutes and stops, until the next time I start up the vehicle.

One problem I can foresee is that again to layman it appears to will require much labor time just to remove the trim, metal frame, seat(?), Etc. At $XX per hour.
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 AT 8:36 AM
Tiny
PEMATTHEWS59
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
For future reference I had to bring my car in for other issue and chevy dealer reported this was temp actuator related to rear A/C. The ticking noise was the "door" allowing the air flow attempting to open - it occurred/occurs even w/rear A/C off - and eventually will fail altogether. Repair/repalcement of part is $139.99 plus min. Labor charge.
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Friday, December 4th, 2009 AT 1:12 PM
Tiny
SJS11
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi, my son's 2003 trailblazer has started doing the same thing. Loud ticking inside the right rear fender area for several minutes when he starts the car. He said it was doing it during the winter for weeks and then stopped. Then it started up again a few weeks ago. Did you ever figure out what the problem was?
Thanks for any help!
Sjs
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Sunday, August 29th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Here is the information you requested. It sounds like you might have a defective or failing auxiliary mode actuator. That is a small electric motor that opens and closes a flap to direct air through certain air ducts. Here is a tutorial showing how to replace a blend door actuator which is similar:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

I've attached picture steps below on how to replace the auxiliary mode actuator on your Trailblazer. You will need to calibrate the actuator after completing the repair and I've included those steps below as well. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Sunday, August 29th, 2021 AT 10:07 PM
Tiny
SJS11
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi Danny,

Thanks so much for responding. I'm not sure if this is the problem or not. The noise on his Trailblazer is coming from all the way in the back on the right side of the cargo area. So kind of inside the right fender, maybe a foot before the tailgate. So since this info you sent is for a Silverado, maybe it's the same thing but in a different place? Maybe that's what you're saying. I'm not sure. Can you tell me if that's what you mean?
Thank you!
Sjs
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Sunday, August 29th, 2021 AT 11:24 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

As you can see from the first picture the picture steps I sent are for a 2003 Trailblazer and not a Silverado. It is for the rear right HVAC unit auxiliary mode actuator in the right side cargo area. Those are the correct steps. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Sunday, August 29th, 2021 AT 11:32 PM
Tiny
SJS11
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I'm really sorry. I clicked on the link and that was talking about an actuator under the glove box, and I could swear that somewhere it said it was on a Silverado. So I apologize that I somehow bypassed the diagrams and went straight to the link. Sleep deprivation strikes again. This is great and very helpful. Thanks very much!
Sjs
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Monday, August 30th, 2021 AT 1:03 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

No need to apologize! We're here to help! Just to clarify the actuator tutorial is just to give you a basic idea of how to replace a similar actuator in the HVAC system. That might be related to a Silverado. The picture steps I attached were for your specific vehicle. Let us know if you have any further questions on this issue and we'll go from there. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Monday, August 30th, 2021 AT 1:32 AM

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