[SlikRik]

So my car's running pretty great, a few minor fixups I'd like to eventually get into, but for now awesome.

However... recently a little issue has developed with the turn signal, or something related. You're obviously aware of the normal ticking sound inside the car when the turn signal is on. In my car I hear the ticking sound very randomly and sporadicly when the turn signal is off. Sometimes it's a normal paced tick, and sometimes it ticks like crazy (as if one of the indicator lights was broken). Sometimes it only ticks once then stops, sometimes it keeps ticking for up to 10 seconds at a time. There also seems to be no correlation to my driving style, whether I'm going straight or turning, going slow or fast, or even driving on smooth pavement or going over bumps. When the turn signal is on, either direction, ticking resumes as it normally should.

I haven't the first clue what could be wrong, and it's really not THAT annoying, but really I just want it to STOP!! :banghead:

Any ideas here? Thanks in advance.

 

[davenay67]

Mine does the same thing, but only once in a while and only when the car is first started. i.e. not enough to bug me to fix it ASAP....I have too many other jobs ahead of it in the queue that are more important.

It sounds like it may be your turn signal stalk/switch that is going bad. Google "rapid clicking signal relay" and see if the symptoms that the other posters list are the same as yours. From what I remember it's the relay that is ticking, but it is the turn signal switch in the stalk that is the cause.

 

[MR.CHIPPEDB5]

I had the same problem. After replacing two hazard switches i realized it was signal stalk I replaced that and the clicking went away!!


Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide

 

[VeeMike]

Logic suggests the signal/hazard relay. However, this is a VW so logic does not apply. I guarantee removing your turn signal stalk and giving it a real good electrical contact spray clean will eliminate your problem. There are previous postings (including mine) regarding this issue.

Remove your turn signal stalk, clean it really well by spraying thouroughly with a quick drying electric contact cleaner and you will be good to go.

 

[pablitormDub]

Same thing happened to me on the wagon a while back, it was the signal stalk, had to replace it

 

[steveq81]

I'll second the motion to try spraying some electrical contact in the turn signal stalk area. I didn't remove my stalk, but just held a rag under the stalk as I sprayed some of the cleaner in there and my random ticking went away.

Lasted about two years and then it came back, so I sprayed it again. Took care of the problem a second time and no issues since.

 

[SlikRik]

Is removing the stalk easy (enough) for a noob mechanic, and/or is replacing the stalk expensive? Also what do you recommend for electric contact cleaner?

Thanks for the help!

 

[BlackV6]

I had a similar issue and almost go crazy trying to find the problem. It was just like the turn signal sound but not so loud and it would start randomly just as you described.
In my case if I tried to use the turn signal their sound would go on/off as usual and I could notice it was not exactly the same noise.

One day I found out that the issue was actually coming from my radio! and an iPod adapter I have installed. When the iPod cable is not in use it falls next to the seat and touches the metal rails of the seat, causing some sort of grounding and making the turn signal noise. Can also be the CD-Changer or just the cable.

Next time you get the noise, try turning off your radio or changing from CD to FM and see if that solves it.

 

[VeeMike]

I'll second the motion to try spraying some electrical contact in the turn signal stalk area. I didn't remove my stalk, but just held a rag under the stalk as I sprayed some of the cleaner in there and my random ticking went away.

I stand corrected. The first time this happened I did remove the stalk as part of my investigation. However, the last time the ticking reoccurred I simply removed the steering column covers and airbag and sprayed the stalk contacts while still assembled. I too just held a cotton rag underneath it all to collect the dripping over-spray. Search. There are posts on this topic and posts about removing the airbag by turning the steering wheel 90 degrees either way off straight ahead in order to access the two screws that attach the bag. I'm recalling this from memory. But look at my post history sometime during the late spring or summer of 2011 I ran into this issue again.

 

[SlikRik]

Thanks for all the help. Found a nifty thread detailing the removal of the steering wheel, and another thread mainly concerned with the turn signal stalk. Soon as I find some electrical spray and some free time I'll dig in there. Also looked up replacements, ECS has one for $156, oooch.. If taking off the wheel isn't too bad, I'll probably just settle for the cleaner spray and deal with it if the problem comes back.

 

[koidragon1980]

if you're signals including hazards begin to act funky (i.e. turn on once, then stop flashing) then you may want to replace the hazard relay as well. this was the first thing to go wrong with my b5.5 after i bought it used. the switch/button/relay comes as one unit and it's not as expensive as the turn stalk. it's an easy fix of just pulling out the old switch on the dash and replacing it with the new one.

 

[bensonc]

I just had my turn signal stalk replaced with the same clicking sound when it in neutral position . Buy it online for $150(CAD) for my with multi-function steering wheel. With the DIY from here(http://www.passatworld.com/forums/6...-spoke-steering-wheel-multifunction-swap.html)
I did it about 1 hour. Not hard at all.

 

[hubb]

yes it sounds like like your turn signal relay has gone bad

 

[PassatBobNY]

Had exact same problem on my 04 wagon, f you want to permentaly fix problem you need to replace the turn signal stalk, bought mine from VW dealer for under $100, you only need to buy left side from VW dealer.
Getting the airbag off to remove steering wheel was most challenging (not hard but took some time to figure out how to release clips) and be careful not to over tighten nut that holds steering wheel on.