Clicking sound in dash?

[Sloryd66]

1999 B2500, 2.5L 4 2WD. Whenever i'm accelerating or in stop and go traffic, i hear a click coming from just below the kick panel under the steering column. It's like a relay or something switching on and off as i accelerate and let off...seems to only do it a lower speeds. I've had that lower panel off as well as the metal shield behind it off on a few occasions running speaker wires, led light over my floor cup holders etc and never saw anything that stuck out as an electrical box/relay in that area. Just wondering if anyone else has heard this same sound and what it's coming from. I can't really figure out a way to pinpoint it's coming from as driving with my head between my knees isn't a practice that's neither safe nor physically possible

 

[Ranger850]

That clicking sound could be the signs of a battery going bad.

 

[Sloryd66]

Battery is fine and truck cranks very rapidly....this sound is definitely some sort of relay that has to do with throttle input while driving. If it were a fly by wire system, i'd attribute it to something with that circuit but on these years, it's an actual cable to the throttle body. It's a single click at light throttle input like 1/8th throttle.....let off and apply throttle again in stop and go traffic or leaving a stop for example and it does it again. I'm going to poke around under the dash this weekend and see if I can find some sort of relay or box under there that could be the source.

 

[Ranger850]

Maybe @RonD or @19Walt93 may know more.

 

[RonD]

1999 might have Relay Box #1
Its above gas pedal area but faces E-brake pedal so sound could be reflecting
It has a cover over it and several relays inside

Picture with cover off: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ranger-forums.com-vbulletin/1796x1347/img_20220122_123952157_159c304413e21f86c2aa1b56c2fc1a357602c37a.jpg

Layout here: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ranger-forums.com-vbulletin/592x876/aux_relay_box_layout_ab4404055977cbc2d0519dce82b0484761472ca6.jpg

But layout changed with options and models

Could be like this is well: https://www.2carpros.com/images/question_images/365935/original.jpg

If its consistent then pull a relay and drive, lol

Also don't discount mechanical noise, i.e. speedometer or odometer, could be worm gear on odometer, known issue
With speedometer I would expect a bit of jumpy needle but not always

 

[4x4prepper]

Maybe it is a relay that switches off the A/C during hard acceleration.

 

[Sloryd66]

It happens under light throttle. What you mention would make sense, but doubt it’d be audible over the engine noise if I was stomping on it, lol. Then I’d be complaining about the sound of a cow mooing

 

[Angie]

can the brake light switch be loose? and or does it happen when removing foot off brake pedal?

 

[Sloryd66]

I don’t believe so but I’ve never checked it to be honest. I haven’t had time lately to dig into it because I’ve been working ridiculous long hours the last couple of weeks. What RonD posted is something I need to investigate as well because honestly, that’s exactly what it sounds like…a relay clicking on and off. It’s not very loud but it’s there. Truck runs and drives fine….lately I’ve been enjoying some Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers and other favorite bands at more than moderate volumes so I don’t hear much of anything. I could probably lose a part off the truck and wouldn’t hear it, lol.

 

[DILLARD000]

Several years ago had a clicking coming from the InstrumentCluster;
fix was Odo\Speedo mechanicals cleaning & lite spray of SiliconLube;
also tightened LampSocket contacts, renewed all Bulbs in the dash, & general house cleaning at that time.
Click here for more info on InstrumentCluster.

 

[fastpakr]

Didn't we have a thread like this years ago that (after months of discussion) turned out to be a tobacco can rolling around inside the dash?