Ticking/Tapping sound from front passenger side on cold days

[cooa99]

Hi all,

When I start my 2005 3.0D Sport on very cold mornings, I get some kind of ticking noise coming from somewhere around the front passenger side. Not sure if is coming from  the bulk head area or underneath the passenger side.

It sound almost like someone gently tapping on the bodywork very softly and almost as fact a a seconds arm.The sound vanishes after about 30 minute of drive of the car gets warm. I have had this throughout 7 yrs of ownership but always ignored it. It never does this in the warmer months

Any idea what it could be?

cheers

[Smeeagain]

Yep. Nothing to worry about. Do a search on here. Been asked many many many times before ........

[cooa99]

Thanks for that.

I found  this

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... ml#msg8682

I am not sure i will be pleased If i had to buy an X5 Brand new to listen to that racket

[X5-D-Sport]

You as well..

Nothing to worry about..
It is the mechanisms / relays for the Webasto diesel warmer & coolant heater.

If you go under the bonnet, the is a rectangular aluminium thing with a Black plastic top, and a small bunch of wires from the middle on top..
This contraption warms the engine coolant to assist warming the engine faster & also warms the diesel for a better cold start.

I heard this some months ago for the first time & it worried the crap out of me...
The same unit has a fan built in it that can some times be heard running a short while, when you switch off the engine...

I may not be exact, but this is the jist...

[X5Sport]

You buy an X5 brand new now it won't have one!  Very expensive cost option nowadays.  It also meant you could have a nice warm toasty car to get into too......so all in all a good idea.

[cooa99]

so this is also the unit that does the Aux heating.

out of curiosity does anyone use aux heating at all?

[fenj66]

If the forecast is of overnight ice I put mine on for a warm car and clear screen in the morning. Works well too. 

[cooa99]

Never used it before. I decided not to use  when I bought the car  for fear of looking on the driveway to find my car burnt to a cinder due to faulty electrics

I must give it a try.

Is it possible to remotely turn it on?. Does it use up a lot of diesel?

[X5Sport]

There is a (very long) thread about enabling it.  You will need to modify the wiring if you can't find a genuine Webasto Telestart remote system.  Various different home bre systems detailed in the thread.

It monitors fuel and battery level....if correctly wired in.....and will auto shut down if either get too low.