Had my '04 X-fire for about a month now, just did the run to Las Vegas and back this weekend, enjoyed the trip and the car immensely. But, as a rookie owner, questions DO keep popping up...

As we were cruising, a couple of times during the drive we heard a ticking sound coming from behind the dash somewhere - in 3/4 time! TICK-tick-tick, TICK-tick-tick, TICK-tick tick... it would do a couple-a-three cycles like that, and be gone. The ONE time that I paid attention to what else was going on with the car, we had just decelerated from a long 80+ mph "segment", but that could just be a coincidence.

Now, I know they built these in Germany, but a waltz-time annoyance noise?

Any ideas out there?

BTW, left the autostick in "D" the whole drive, used the cruise control at least half of the time, and got about 28 mpg going up to LV from San Diego. I expect that I improved on that on the way home (haven't refueled yet), and we certainly did NOT "baby" it. The traffic was all averaging 75+ mph, some stretches at 85+ mph, and we pretty much just stayed mid-pack... Nice ride.

 

Tick - tick - tick - tick... You may want to let some one else drive the car for a while... It may be good for your health...

 

There are two locations that have been known for ticking noises, one is the CD player and the other is somewhere in the AC/Heating vents, could be a flapper valve?

 

I'm with Maxwell on it being something to do with the heating/cooling system. Mine does it occasionally and it seems if I turn the fan on it stops. Mine sounds like a computer booting up. I've noticed no affect on the cars operations at all and I'm not about to give it to a Chrysler tech and say try and find it.

Pat

 

I remember a guy with an SLK320 found the problem, but I can't remember where his website was. He gave a full explanation of it, it was an easy fix too. I never had this problem with my car so your on your own, search the Merc. forums. Look under r170 chassis.

 

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