E46 chirp/cricket type noise

[Zound]

Hi everybody,

Anybody with a keen ear for diagnosing strange noises?

The noise appeared after I had re-installed all cooling components to test for leaks and operational failure. Things that were removed: Fan, water pump and pulley, thermostat, serpentine belt.

The noise is, as mentioned in the title, a constant chirp/cricket sound that is fairly high pitched.

When does it occur:
1) Driving over imperfect surfaces (ie: most roads in south africa) - The noise is more pronounced over worse surfaces
2) The noise briefly appears on startup(cranking) but never at idle.
3) I have switched the engine off, put the car in neutral and driven down a hill and the noise is still present.
4) The chirp does not increase with RPM's nor does it respond to heavy braking or accelerating.
5) The noise appears to be coming from the front of the car, it almost feels as if its being emitted through the center vents. The noise is present with the HVAC system on or off, regardless of fan speed or AC activation.

FYI: Both the serpentine and AC belt have been replaced in the last 12 months and all except one pulley have been replaced too.

I am going to upload a video to YouTube and post the link here to see if anybody can recognise the noise.

Please guys, its driving me absolutely mad :smashScreen:, any suggestions and help will be much appreciated.

 

[Coisman]

Check your Tensioner pully...the one on the Alternator

 

[Zound]

Check your Tensioner pully...the one on the Alternator

If it were the Tensioner pulley, surely the noise would be 1)Evident at idle and 2)Respond to changing RPM ?

Ive had a busted pulley before and am aware of the distinct sound that it makes. This is different. Video coming now...


[video=youtube]

 

[GPGrobler]

Is this inside the car? Did you bleed the cooling system properly for example did you have the heater and fan inside the car on high when bleeding the air out of the system?

The chirping sound on mine I suspect is coming from the interior cooling fan, especially if it is at low speed, thinking that the electric fan motor's bearings are "dry" on mine.

 

[ChefDJ]

Can you hear it from both outside and inside the car?

 

[Zound]

Only from inside the car and while driving. The noise is not present while stationary regardless of fan speed etc.

 

[Hugo_za]

My 10c says its something that came loose and is rattling. Like a clip or wire retainer.

 

[ChefDJ]

My bet is the fan blower. Mine also does it. To replace... The entire dash needs stripping.

 

[Zound]

My 10c says its something that came loose and is rattling. Like a clip or wire retainer.

I agree, it's just proving extremely difficult to locate.

---

My bet is the fan blower. Mine also does it. To replace... The entire dash needs stripping.

Stripping the entire dashboard... sounds like fun!

I'm going to give this a try, busy with it right now!

Annoying dashboard Rattle

 

[GPGrobler]

Have you tried increasing the blower fan speed to see if the noise goes away/becomes worse?

 

[ChefDJ]

Cool. Now I know who to contact to fix mine :rollsmile:

 

[Chucky]

Believe it or not this is actually a known e46 issue and has reports on many international forums.
Apparently there is a cooling fan in the dash to cool the fuse box or some electronic components, it is making the chirping sound. my e46 did it too,
it drove me nuts, and was completely random some days it was there some days not, some days fairly quiet some days sounded like the ''birdies'' were having a full on fight :rollsmile:

i left mine alone and eventually it stopped doing it, car has been fine for years after the noise went away.

on the US cars it happens on the drivers side, on RHD drive cars its the passenger side.

maybe this can shed some more light: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572855

 

[Lizzard]

Put your fan speed at full blast and hear if the noise is gone, that will tell you if it is the fan blower that is the problem, but yes that is an E46 common problem. I also had this chirp sound when my fan was on.....maybe switch the fan off completely and hear if the noise is gone, will also tell you if it is the blower fan.

the birdies :tiptoe:

 

[Zound]

Believe it or not this is actually a known e46 issue and has reports on many international forums.
Apparently there is a cooling fan in the dash to cool the fuse box or some electronic components, it is making the chirping sound. my e46 did it too,
it drove me nuts, and was completely random some days it was there some days not, some days fairly quiet some days sounded like the ''birdies'' were having a full on fight :rollsmile:

i left mine alone and eventually it stopped doing it, car has been fine for years after the noise went away.

on the US cars it happens on the drivers side, on RHD drive cars its the passenger side.

maybe this can shed some more light: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572855

After reading up all the forums I stumbled upon this and it makes absolute sense. The sound is identical and its location is also where it should be for the noise to emit itself. So this evening I decided to have a quick look to simply inspect the unit and I have stumbled upon a massive hurdle. My car doesnt seem to have the blower fan component!

All I have is the plastic cover which leads to the ECU compartment.

All the international threads have been about LHD cars so Ive never seen a picture of someone pulling the damn thing out of a RHD. A quick look on RealOEM for a EUR E46 330i Sedan (AN56) indicates that it should have the component http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho..._2000_E46_BMW_330i&diagId=12_0899#12907571019

Can anyone verify that this thing should or should not be in my car? Ill take a better look tomorrow and will take a picture of the cover plate that I removed.

The mystery continues...

 

[CB Diagnostics]

Believe it or not this is actually a known e46 issue and has reports on many international forums.
Apparently there is a cooling fan in the dash to cool the fuse box or some electronic components, it is making the chirping sound. my e46 did it too,
it drove me nuts, and was completely random some days it was there some days not, some days fairly quiet some days sounded like the ''birdies'' were having a full on fight :rollsmile:

i left mine alone and eventually it stopped doing it, car has been fine for years after the noise went away.

on the US cars it happens on the drivers side, on RHD drive cars its the passenger side.

maybe this can shed some more light: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572855

After reading up all the forums I stumbled upon this and it makes absolute sense. The sound is identical and its location is also where it should be for the noise to emit itself. So this evening I decided to have a quick look to simply inspect the unit and I have stumbled upon a massive hurdle. My car doesnt seem to have the blower fan component!

All I have is the plastic cover which leads to the ECU compartment.

All the international threads have been about LHD cars so Ive never seen a picture of someone pulling the damn thing out of a RHD. A quick look on RealOEM for a EUR E46 330i Sedan (AN56) indicates that it should have the component http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho..._2000_E46_BMW_330i&diagId=12_0899#12907571019

Can anyone verify that this thing should or should not be in my car? Ill take a better look tomorrow and will take a picture of the cover plate that I removed.

The mystery continues...

Good Day
Not all E46 had the fan for the e-box only some of them came with the fan.If your car is fitted the fan you will see it if you remove the cubby compartment.But they never cause any problems I have never replaced one while I worked for a dealer.If you are in PTA side I can come have a look for you.Regards

 

[Zound]

Good Day
Not all E46 had the fan for the e-box only some of them came with the fan.If your car is fitted the fan you will see it if you remove the cubby compartment.But they never cause any problems I have never replaced one while I worked for a dealer.If you are in PTA side I can come have a look for you.Regards

Thank you so much for that information. I was dreading that some previous mechanic replaced it with a non standard part.

I'm little disappointed because I was hoping that I had found the culprit to the strange noise, anyway the mystery continues...

Seems like taking a part the entire dashboard is the next step :skit: :hammerhead:

 

[Jizza24]

Very concerning let's hope you find the noise

 

[CB Diagnostics]

Good Day
Not all E46 had the fan for the e-box only some of them came with the fan.If your car is fitted the fan you will see it if you remove the cubby compartment.But they never cause any problems I have never replaced one while I worked for a dealer.If you are in PTA side I can come have a look for you.Regards

Thank you so much for that information. I was dreading that some previous mechanic replaced it with a non standard part.

I'm little disappointed because I was hoping that I had found the culprit to the strange noise, anyway the mystery continues...

Seems like taking a part the entire dashboard is the next step :skit: :hammerhead:

Well if you don't come right maybe get hold of me and I will sort it out for you.
Regards

 

[Waseem 333i]

After reading this thread i decided to have a listen if my car is also making this noise. Low and behold it is. Only makes a noise while moving and sounds like its coming from the centre vents. From the passenger seats the sound can be heard coming from the back. So in my car its either the fold down seats or the blind. I will check when up soon.

 

[Zound]

So I've taken apart the Cubby and all plastic components in that general area and it seems that the noise has gone away. I'm going to re-install parts one by one and see if they bring the noise back. Will be taking off the rear door cards to sort out some other rattles and squeaks too.