Diagnose clicking sound when plugging in and starting.

[Paulski]

I'm hoping the group can help me.
I have a 2021 mach-E premium all-wheel drive extended battery. Picked up, new from dealer December 2021, currently has 12,500 miles.
A few weeks ago it started making a clicking sound, five clicks, when the vehicle is plugged in at home using a level 2 and it also makes the sound when starting. The sound does not continue it stops and you won't hear it again until the next time plugged in or started. The sound,

to me, is similar to when you are starting an ICE vehicle that has a dying battery. Has anyone else experienced this?
Instruments, do not indicate any kind of warning. I will attach a short video that has the sound.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Paul

 

[generaltso]

My non-professional diagnosis is that those sounds are completely normal.

 

[JamieGeek]

Its cold and the car is shaking the shutters in front to make sure they aren't frozen shut.

Normal.

 

[RickMachE]

Yup. Have someone watch the shutters when you plug in.

 

[Logal727]

I'm hoping the group can help me.
I have a 2021 mach-E premium all-wheel drive extended battery. Picked up, new from dealer December 2021, currently has 12,500 miles.
A few weeks ago it started making a clicking sound, five clicks, when the vehicle is plugged in at home using a level 2 and it also makes the sound when starting. The sound does not continue it stops and you won't hear it again until the next time plugged in or started. The sound,

to me, is similar to when you are starting an ICE vehicle that has a dying battery. Has anyone else experienced this?
Instruments, do not indicate any kind of warning. I will attach a short video that has the sound.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Paul

There’s a few relays that click when the doors prepare to be unlocked and you’ll also hear the contactors close, gotta remember this is a different system than an ICE and has different processes, it’s totally normal

 

[shark]

They are probably relays (switches) clicking to direct all that magic go juice to the juice tank. It’s normal.

it’s similar to the sound of a failing battery in an ICE car because in that case your battery has enough power to click over the starter relay, or throw out the starter solenoid (both sound like clicks), but not enough power to turn the starter motor.

 

[DaMeatMan]

I'm hoping the group can help me.
I have a 2021 mach-E premium all-wheel drive extended battery. Picked up, new from dealer December 2021, currently has 12,500 miles.
A few weeks ago it started making a clicking sound, five clicks, when the vehicle is plugged in at home using a level 2 and it also makes the sound when starting. The sound does not continue it stops and you won't hear it again until the next time plugged in or started. The sound,

to me, is similar to when you are starting an ICE vehicle that has a dying battery. Has anyone else experienced this?
Instruments, do not indicate any kind of warning. I will attach a short video that has the sound.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Paul

Totally normal, I hear this as well and it appears to come from the contactor relays. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Paulski]

My non-professional diagnosis is that those sounds are completely normal.

I have already had the car for one New Hampshire winter and this is a sound that it just started making. Unless it is a new process that it does as a result of and OTA update, why wouldn't it have done it before.

 

[Paulski]

Its cold and the car is shaking the shutters in front to make sure they aren't frozen shut.

Normal.

I have already had the car for one New Hampshire winter and this is a sound that it just started making, regardless of the outside temperature. Unless it is a new process that it does as a result of and OTA update, why wouldn't it have done it before.

 

[generaltso]

I have already had the car for one New Hampshire winter and this is a sound that it just started making. Unless it is a new process that it does as a result of and OTA update, why wouldn't it have done it before.

Could be newer software than you had last year, or it could be that you just never noticed it. Either way, don't worry about it. They all make those noises.

 

[Paulski]

It is a sound that I would have definitely noticed if it had occured before.
I have a call into my dealer and I will update as things progress.

 

[Paulski]

They are probably relays (switches) clicking to direct all that magic go juice to the juice tank. It’s normal.

it’s similar to the sound of a failing battery in an ICE car because in that case your battery has enough power to click over the starter relay, or throw out the starter solenoid (both sound like clicks), but not enough power to turn the starter motor.

 

[Paulski]

I am familiar with the sound of coolant flowing when plugging in. This is not that.
I will go watch the shutters when plugging in as suggested by another member. And again, this is a new sound, why would "relays" suddenly start making a new sound.

 

[generaltso]

It is a sound that I would have definitely noticed if it had occured before.
I have a call into my dealer and I will update as things progress.

I guess it's up to you if you really want to spend time with your dealer for this, but there's nothing wrong.

 

[generaltso]

why would "relays" suddenly start making a new sound.

As mentioned, you likely have different software than you had last winter.

Sponsored