Hiya All.

Tonight I noticed that when i switch My engine off for a couple of seconds there is a clicking noise coming from the engine. Only clicks for approx 2-3 seconds then stops. Sounds like a Alternator noise but unsure as it seems to turn on ok with no problems.

Anyone had this or know what the problem is????

Thankyou

 

There are many sources of clicking made by a hot engine, engine accessory, and/or engine compartment material when it is first turned off. So it is virtually impossible to determine the source of a clicking noise without some luck. There are some systems (like the radiator fan) that do stay on for a few seconds after the engine is shut off. When the engine cools, I would check the engine fluids and inspect the engine compartment for any anomalies. My guess is that you will not find any anomaly.

Sorry that I could not be of more help

 

Sources of clicking when you shut down your engine could be as simple as a fan bearing on the ventilation system as it winds down. Try shutting your air system off before you shut off your engine and using process of elimination before the engine gets hot.

Try this:

Cold crank to engine start
Engine idle
Turn off all vent and air system controls, radio off
Shut engine off while engine is still cold
Listen for clicks

If you're lucky, there will be no clicks

Re-start engine, turn air sysem back on, leave radio off
Wait until air system fan speed is at steady state ( i.e. It reached its operating speed), shut engine off
Listen for clicks

Just a few inexpensive things to try that will take only a couple minutes. Fan blower motors have bearings and tend to click when they get worn as bearings often do.

The difference with a warm engine is that other heat related clicks like engine compartment or exhaust manifold heat shields might add to the experiment. Since you just started noticing the clicks, more than likely it's a wear related failure which isn't necessarily catastrophic but could take a while to diagnose.

 

I'm pretty sure that clicking is just your HPFP (high pressure fuel pump), see if the clicking is similar to the click you hear when u turn the key to to start but dont actually start the car. You should hear the fuel pump prime and if its a similar sound, its just the fuel pump unpriming i guess u could say.

 

high pressure fuel pump is mechanical and driven by the intake cam. If the engine isn't running... neither is the pump.

Its probably heat related

 

I hear a continuous loud "clicking" after I turn off the car, lasts a few minutes. But this
seems to come from the exterior body, since I hear it only after I get out of the
car.

It's been doing this since I got the car new. I agree with AudiTek, almost sounds like
something is cooling/contracting and twitching as a result.

God, of all the premium brands, why do only Audis have all these whacky problems :-)

 

i work next to Porsche and i watch them do engine and transmission all the time.

Mercedes is the next building over and they have horror stories as well

 

It could be the exhaust system and/or the catalytic converter making noise during their cool down phase after a drive? You may be able to isolate the general location by using a tube near to your hear to find the general location of the cracking noise

 

I say exhaust. A hot Cat will click when cooling. Solution is to get a stage 2 chip with a test pipe instead of a cat. No clicking and like 60 hp. Do it.