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Citroen C3, "clicking noise" in dashboard area, duff relay ?

For around the last year I have been having massive troubles with a clicking noise which, apologies for poor description, sounds as though it originates from within/just under the dashboard.

Every time I start the car up, a pause then a second round of clicking and then I wont hear it again. On the rare occasion, the noise does randomly and sporadically start and the noise is unaffected by whatever speed I am doing, if I am accelerating or braking - nothing effects or changes it from whatever I alter.

The car has been sent back to Citroen and returned with the noise in place... It is driving me to insanity!

Has anybody experiences anything similar to this? Maybe it is a faulty relay but I have been unable to get the problem sorted - any experiences and suggestions would be hugely well recieved!

Kevin James Connor
June 2008

Citroen C3 Vehicles, Cars Citroen C3 Noise

The clicking sound is a stripped gear in the Heater flap actuator. You need to buy a new actuator.

ian gregory
September 2022

Help! I have a 2004 C3 1.6 Exclusive. I get the clicking noise for about 5 seconds after starting the car and followed by the same clicking sound 30 seconds later which also lasts 5 seconds. I have isolated the reduction gear (I.e taken the wiring out) and noise still there. I have taken out the reduction gear altogether and noise still there so am lost as to what I should do next? Any help much appreciated. Cheers.

Parv
March 2013

I'm answering now as I just had the same problem and after wasting money at a local garage who didn't find the fault, I have solved it myself.

In my case it was the 'Reduction Gear" or heater flap (my part no 6447NR), which is on the air duct that draws fresh air in and opens and closes as required by the heating system.

You can check whether this is your problem by unplugging it and seeing if the noise goes. It is behind the dashboard on the steering wheel side next to the transmission tunnel.

I managed mainly by feel to get the cable out and prove this was the fault before removing the bottom piece of the dashboard (unclips) and then getting better access.

I had to first remove another similar item which controls the heater box to gain access to all the screws holding this item. It is fiddly but I managed despite not being the smallest or most flexible!

Once I got it out I opened it and found one of the little gears had stripped giving me the machine gun noise.

Trevor
January 2012

Thanks for the suggestion. You were right. Took it up to the local garage and they put in a new motor for the heating, and now the noise is no more

Huw
February 2009

My wife's car also has the same noise. Internet searching indicates it might be a flap motor to do with the heating but I have not confirmed this

Paul
January 2009

Hello

I'm having the same problem myself. Not sure if it's just coincidence but my heating system has also just stopped working.

Did you ever get to the bottom of it?

Thanks

Huw
December 2008