Hi All, Looking for a bit of help to get to the bottom of a weird noise that has just arrived. When I unlock the car and open the door, I can hear a loud clacking/ clicking from behind the dash. It lasts for about ten seconds then stops- it's loud and noticeable. I know ten secs doesnt sound long, but it's a noise you cant ignore. I have searched on here - some mention the heater flaps/solenoids are moving ready for starting the car etc, and if it is this, it's likely something is bust or failing to engage somewhere. I have never heard the noises before. Any ideas? Thanks in advance....

Steering lock?
I've heard mine try to engage a few times when leaving the car but not before starting.  

I kow the noise you mean, its not that though. This sounds like a midget under the dash, poking a plastic fork into the blades of the heater fan.On and off for ten seconds. Maybe thats what it is.

It was an optional extra on some models.......... Forkin Midgets! Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Still got the noise -am sure now it aint a fork-wielding midget- had the centre vent out and waggled the cable connected to the thumbwheel... And it was worse, so I am pretty sure it's the lower business end of the cable that is clicking/clacking. Can anybody tell me whereabouts this green Bowden cable connects to the heater box? It looks, how shall I put this, intense, behind there....thanks in advance.

Got to the bottom of this noise - it's the heater flap stepper motor that controls the 'door' for the footwell outlets. It works ok - or at least I think it does, moves the flaps when the heater controls are operated. For some reason, it has a clacking fit when the car wakes up. It also clacks once every 45 seconds - as the ATC ECU checks it's position.

Has anybody had to change this motor? Amazing, but there is a big description of their operation in the WSM but no clues as to how they are accessed/ removed. It looks like a centre console out job, then remove the back frame that carries the upright switch panel/ clock etc.

Maybe useful for some one in future: the stepper motor can be accessed for replacement by removing the centre vent (with thumbwheel) and the lower switch panels. These pull out -carefully- after you have removed both of the console side trims. These are held on by a single screw at the rear under the dash, and simply pull off along the curved finisher.

You will be able to see six Torx screws that hold on the support frame for the switch panels removed earlier; remove these, and then unclip the frame from it's backing; it's hard to see, but these are locked together by a joint type clip in the centre. A bit of brute force, but not too much, and you should be able to pul this frame forward enough to see the stepper motor. You will have to bend the frame downwards and towards you at the top if you want to change the motor. After that, it's simple, the motor is held in by a tang that can be released by a small screwdriver and it pops out.

Just remember, you will need to line up the heater flap door with the shaft of the motor, or it won't seat. You can move the flap from the footwell - the operating rod is in view with the console side removed.

Worth a mention: you will be able to see two motors: the left controls air to the face level vents, the right one controls air to the footwell. Also, this only applies to the four zone climate cars: so called high line heaters. I think the cheaper spec uses cables? Also, I understand that there are two more stepper motors, located further forward; these control air intake.

Cheers paneldamage! Your a star!!
Still can't find them on eBay though! That shall be my evenings focus at work tonight!!

I have this on mine but sound is more like someone with leather trousers going slowly down a slide if that makes sense.. It's happens for about 5 secs after opening door. Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

This one? EBay item no eBay Item No. 350847743462

interesting. It was a very common issue with P38s. I had to change one or more of the stepper motors on pervious P38s and it was a complete pain. Major dash out job to get to one of them..!

Seems like its still a bit of an issue but at least easier to resolve these days.

not sure of the situation in the FF but they used to come in a set of 3 all wired up together and a must to change all of them (apparently) Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Would this stepper motor be affected by low outside temperature? Ours has just started doing this recently, when the cold weather hit, so the heater controls are both on high temp and top and bottom vents are open.

Wife says it does it once when the car is first started in the morning and only does it again if the car is left for a while.