Strange noise from center console - Help Needed For Diagnostic

[cleartdragon]

Hello all,

My car has this strange noise when the weather is cold, It comes from center console, not sure what is the problem. I tested Its not related if engine is cold/warm or not related to If ac is on or off. Any help is appreciated. Video is attached below


https://youtube.com/shorts/2kHAnEJQDfw?feature=share

 

[Connor H]

Truly no idea what that is , but jesus that would be annoying!

 

[Alexis27]

A bit of old foam might have become dislodged and stuck. What happens if you put the fans on max?

 

[Nam-uk]

Check the air pollan box after removing the pollan filter , as ive had the sound damping foam come away inside that box and break down as it gets stuck in the fan the noise made it sound was the worst, there is also a sound damping foam pad underneath the flap you can to get your hand around the back to clean it off.. its the plastic covering that jams in the fan .. defiantly worth checking... i took it all off when that happened and hovered it all out as the foam breaks down like the door seal foam

 

[cleartdragon]

A bit of old foam might have become dislodged and stuck. What happens if you put the fans on max?

Thanks for your reply, I'm not sure which foam you mean, but we replaced the old sponge (there wasn’t much left of it! ) earlier because the heating wasn’t really working. When I set the fans to maximum, the noise becomes less noticeable since the fans are quite loud, but I think the noise is still there.

Check the air pollan box after removing the pollan filter , as ive had the sound damping foam come away inside that box and break down as it gets stuck in the fan the noise made it sound was the worst, there is also a sound damping foam pad underneath the flap you can to get your hand around the back to clean it off.. its the plastic covering that jams in the fan .. defiantly worth checking... i took it all off when that happened and hovered it all out as the foam breaks down like the door seal foam

Thanks for your reply, Worth checking this, As far I understand I can check all of this from pollen filter side right?


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Only thing I can be sure is, I'm driving this car more than 40.000km's this only happens when Its below 6-5 degrees celcius, It never happened on summer which I everyday use ac.

 

[Battoussai]

Just a guess here - to narrow down all possibilities. I saw you have an aftermarket radio, maybe an wince or android one? These radios often come with a built in fan. Have you checked that? Maybe the fan's busted bearing is causing that noise.

 

[cleartdragon]

Just a guess here - to narrow down all possibilities. I saw you have an aftermarket radio, maybe an wince or android one? These radios often come with a built in fan. Have you checked that? Maybe the fan's busted bearing is causing that noise.

Thanks for your reply, I completely removed radio before this is my first suspect when Its happened last winter, but not Its coming from the radio. I wish It was so I can throw it out from the window

 

[Battoussai]

Ok, so you got that sorted out. I saw on the video (and you mentioned it) that the blower is off, so no AC or fan spinning. So it's really weird but I would rule out the heating fan. It is like a pulley on its way out grinding and transmitting the sound all through the ventilation... And the sound begins right away when you start the motor? When you rev up does the sound get worse or its the same?

And I would point a flashlight to the ventilation grilles and check if the flaps are working well, opening and closing because it can be broken or stuck and vibrating while the car is on.

 

[Connor H]

It sounds like some kind of electrical component giving off a frequency to me.

 

[cleartdragon]

Update:

It started to happen in summertime too, some component is dying. Noise is same. Mostly happens at morning, regardless ac is on or off

 

[Battoussai]

Update:

It started to happen in summertime too, some component is dying. Noise is same. Mostly happens at morning, regardless ac is on or off

And can you hear it outside of the car? Or does it seems to come from elsewhere outside the car?

And if you open the glove box, does it sound near?

 

[Battoussai]

Can you record your engine bay working? Maybe there is something there rubbing and pitching that hi-frequency ressonating across the vents.

 

[Battoussai]

And if it is a aftermaket radio, check if there are new frame adaptations with metal pieces or added bolts that would cause friction with engine idle revs.

I would definitely strip all centre console to track that annoying sound.

 

[Battoussai]

 

[mty12345]

Mine has developed some weird rattle from inside the vents that blow on the windscreen. Definitely not foam as it sounds like plastic against plastic and happens even when airflow is off. Super annoying too, think i might have to dig out my borescope and see if I can see anything, as don't fancy taking the whole dash apart.

 

[ExiledWeegie]

talking about the foam, i dodged a massive chunk of it the other day, thought it was a bee, took evasive action (flailing about like a twat) then realised it was the foam firing out the vents like a tommy gun.

 

[Nam-uk]

Mine has developed some weird rattle from inside the vents that blow on the windscreen. Definitely not foam as it sounds like plastic against plastic and happens even when airflow is off. Super annoying too, think i might have to dig out my borescope and see if I can see anything, as don't fancy taking the whole dash apart.

That would do my nut in, the insert in the glove box can be taken out, from what ive seen you don't need to take the dash off to do it

 

[mty12345]

That would do my nut in, the insert in the glove box can be taken out, from what ive seen you don't need to take the dash off to do it

Yeah fingers crossed mate. I definietly can't leave it as it is, drove me nuts just on the 10 min journey to and from work lol

 

[Nam-uk]

Yeah fingers crossed mate. I definietly can't leave it as it is, drove me nuts just on the 10 min journey to and from work lol

that plastic backed foam that come off the back of the flap in the pollen box that was hitting the fan did same, it was like putting a lolly pop stick in your brakes hitting the spokes when you were a kid lol im like wtf is that crap