Strange relay click

[FL00DY]

Now is that a 'click'? Or a 'Tick'? .... Oh no ... It's a BOMB ... RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

Ever notice how new owners pick up every little squeak, rattle, tick and hum? You'll get used to it. In a while you'll be talking door hinge squeaks, springs settling groans, etc. etc. (Do a search ... it'll all come back.)

Dave

I remember a few new owners not even knowing about the storage bins under the front seats

[Roodosutaa]

Now is that a 'click'? Or a 'Tick'? .... Oh no ... It's a BOMB ... RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

Ever notice how new owners pick up every little squeak, rattle, tick and hum? You'll get used to it. In a while you'll be talking door hinge squeaks, springs settling groans, etc. etc. (Do a search ... it'll all come back.)

Dave

Squeak, rattles you can put down to a build/fit/finish issue (incidentally, my dash does rattle as the door panel rubs against the dash) and you either live with that or get it fixed, which I will in my case considering it's part of the reason I chose the Pog over a Clio Sport even though it's less fun, stock for stock.

An unidentfied, distinct mechanical/electrical click on the other hand is something else entirely.

[Sharkie]

I get a click (like a relay sound) every time after about 2 - 5 mins of driving. It originates from behind the light switch I think.

I only get it once and never again ... (every time)

I've been ignoring it.

[Ben_GTI]

Depending on the types of relays they use it is probably normal. Larger industrial contactors (415V 50A) make a hell of a bang when they work, so im not overly concerned about little ticks from ours.

My car does it too.

[Matt P]

I remember a few new owners not even knowing about the storage bins under the front seats

i didnt know about those till i vaccumed it the first time :p

[Bubu]

I have a suspicion that the click which we all seem to have is the water pump starting. Although I havent actually listened to see when the pump starts, the following is why I suspect it to be the pump.

1. The 'click' happens after short period of time from starting the car. The car may not activate the pump so that it can warm up quicker by not flowing the water when its trying to warm it up.

2. The obove also aids in reducing emissions, because a car at operating temp produces less emissions.

3. When the click happens it appears to draw a bit of electrical power. I noticed my lights dim for a split second as the click happens. Not many things draw that much power in a car to cause the lights to dim for a split second, however a pump will draw enough current to cause the lights to dim.

I may have a listen to the pump on my next cold start to see if my suspicions are correct.

[Roodosutaa]

I have a suspicion that the click which we all seem to have is the water pump starting. Although I havent actually listened to see when the pump starts, the following is why I suspect it to be the pump.

1. The 'click' happens after short period of time from starting the car. The car may not activate the pump so that it can warm up quicker by not flowing the water when its trying to warm it up.

2. The obove also aids in reducing emissions, because a car at operating temp produces less emissions.

3. When the click happens it appears to draw a bit of electrical power. I noticed my lights dim for a split second as the click happens. Not many things draw that much power in a car to cause the lights to dim for a split second, however a pump will draw enough current to cause the lights to dim.

I may have a listen to the pump on my next cold start to see if my suspicions are correct.

Mmm the water pump is electric?? I thought those things are driven by the crank... but yeah what you said makes sense though if it actually is electrical - the revs dip as well so that might mean it's a big current draw as well.

[Bubu]

Mmm the water pump is electric?? I thought those things are driven by the crank... but yeah what you said makes sense though if it actually is electrical - the revs dip as well so that might mean it's a big current draw as well.

The water pump is electric on the Polo GTI. On most cars they are driven by the crank (attached to the pump via a belt).

[Spec83]

There are several clicks you will hear in a polo -

1. 35-45sec after starting - this is the air pump turning off after a cold start. I usually don't drive anywhere until this happens as I like to let the Pogo warm up a bit

2. When you press the brake pedal

3. When the electric fan on the radiator starts/stops

I am guessing that your clicking is Number 3

And the water pump is always running