Clicking noise with key on

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

Can someone verify this?
3.8L Grand Prix

With the ignition key on but engine not running, there is a clicking noise coming from near the Mass Airflow Sensor on the intake tract. The noise seems to be just to the downstream side of the MAF in that black housing. I could understand if it clicked once and that was it but it will click every few seconds like it is trying to do something.

Thanks.

**BillBoost37** · 04-09-2012

Put a finger on the IAC. Likely it's bad. If you unplug it does the sound go away? Is your idle erratic or odd at all?

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

Ok, I'll try unplugging that to see if it stops making noise without engine running.

Car runs fine, idles fine. Just been having an intermittant problem where the car will die while driving it and then need to wait a few minutes to restart it. A few times (reportedly, daughter's car) the car will not start when it's been parked for 10 minutes or so even though it ran fine up till the point it was parked.

Had 3 different mechanics check for the problem and by the time the car gets towed to shop it starts fine and there are no codes on the computer. Had a GM dealer look at it and two different private shops.

Since it seems to be a 5 minute window to catch the car in the "act" I"m driving it now and have an ohm meter and spark plug tester in the back seat.

Any ideas would be great.

I had two mechanics lean toward the bad Ignition Control Module because "reportedly" the engine wouldn't even turn over or crank a few times, but recently seems to be a die and then crank/but not start issue.

Ideas?

**BillBoost37** · 04-09-2012

What year is the car?

If it stalls and restarts, I'd lean toward crank sensor. Most of the time there's no codes, no symptoms other than the stalling issue. However you mention it won't crank, meaning the starter won't turn. If the starter won't turn then it's not a crank sensor issue. The only things that can keep a starter from turning in a 97-03 would be battery connections or soleniod wire. Battery connections could cause the car to stall as well. I'd pull both of them off, remove the bolt from the rubber boot, then pull the rubber boot off to inspect them. Clean those connections and put the boots/bolts back on.

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

2002 non-supercharged 3.8.

Yes, battery connections have been checked multiple times. New battery tried. If it weren't for the "no crank" issue that has popped up a few times I think you are right about the crank sensor.

Trying to nail down the issue and that's why I'm driving the car this week. I've driven the car numerous times during the last 9 months and it has never died on me. There was one time were I think it may have died for a second or two when I was going 35 but it kept going after that brief hesitation with no restart needed. Would I bet my life that it indeed died on me, no, it was just too quick and I really didn't get a chance to look at any guages because of traffic.

**Scottydoggs** · 04-09-2012

does the tach ever just drop to O when driving, or before it stalls out? thats a crank sensor tell tail sign.

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

Yes, tach goes to 0 sometimes or all the time. I'll watch for that.

She also said sometimes the tach will go to 0 and the car is still running. Not sure if that is on restart. I know she said the engine was running and tach was goofy.

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

So, could a bad Ignition Control Module cause the tach to go to zero, even if the engine is running?

**BillBoost37** · 04-09-2012

That hiccup you felt..that's crank sensor usually.

The no crank .. hmmm do you get any funky behavior if you mess with the ignition while it's running. Most likely being a kid driving..she has a huge and heavy pile of keychain blob

**Scottydoggs** · 04-09-2012

id go with a crank sensor, tach dropping and not restarting are all signs that lead to a crank sensor.

if its still not cranking (the starter not working) at times, that would be another issue to deal with.

like bill said, the crank sensor wont often set the cel off.

**BillBoost37** · 04-09-2012

here's the thing with cranking.

It won't happen in gear
It won't happen if the pnp or range selector switch is pissed off (not common)
It may happen based on a loose wire to the starter soleniod
It may happen from bad battery connections
It may happen if security is pissed off
It may happen if the ignition switch is messing up.

**Summit670** · 04-09-2012

Keychain - no, we've covered that years ago, not too much extra, the FOB and 2-3 keys.

Yes, I've played with the switch while driving, tapping on it, moving it a little, and doing it at the worst possible point in the road thinking it will only happen in the worst possible location. Today I forgot to bring my cell phone, so maybe it'll act up going home. 7 miles in town driving.