Does anyone else with a second gen Intrepid, mine has the 3.2 motor, hear a small motor activating sound coming from what appears to be the middle of the dash when you first get in the car? Almost sounds like a softer version of a suspension leveling motor/pump I've heard on my dad's Caddy. I'm hearing that same sound more now that the auto temp control system is acting whacky, but don't know if they're connected. Just seems odd to have a motorized system making noise when there's not even a key in the ignition.

By the way, I bought my 98 new and am pretty sure I've heard this always.

 

There is a fan that draws air into the atc control head so the atc knows the temp in the car. Thats what you are hearing. Pull the iod fuse for 10 minutes and see how your atc works. (or disconnect the battery) This won't change the noise.