Belt Buckle Clicking Noise
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Belt Buckle Clicking Noise
It's official! I'm not going crazy! I found the source of the clicking noise that was driving me bananas for the last couple of days!!! 
I'm not normally bothered by the occasional rattle or squeak, but this clicking noise was putting my patience to the test. I incorrectly assumed that it was a plastic-on-plastic type of noise because the noise only happened when the car was moving. The source of the clicking was definitely from my right side, so as I drove, I would try to lean over and hold every interior part within my reach just to see if I could make it stop. Little did I know (or ever suspect) that the problem was INSIDE the female belt buckle assembly wedged between the center console and the passenger's seat.
Upon further inspection, there seems to be some wiring that goes into this assembly from the bottom, so there's either an electronic switch or a relay of some sort in there that's defective. When I grab the top of the buckle and hold it steady, I can feel the clicking inside my hand. Whatever is in there, it's causing a tapping sensation that's hitting the outer cover of the buckle's assembly. Needless to say, once you hear it, you can't get the damn clicking sound out of your head!
I drove it to the dealer this afternoon and made an appointment for next week to have this issue resolved, along with my first oil change. I certainly hope that it's a quick fix and not something that will require tearing up the vehicle's interior! I'll update this thread next week with whatever information I get from the dealer.
By the way, if you're experiencing the same symptoms with your vehicle, you might want to take a look at the female belt buckle assembly. It just might be the culprit!
Here's a crappy video clip that I took of the incident as I was driving, just in case I needed to show the service manager:
I'm not normally bothered by the occasional rattle or squeak, but this clicking noise was putting my patience to the test. I incorrectly assumed that it was a plastic-on-plastic type of noise because the noise only happened when the car was moving. The source of the clicking was definitely from my right side, so as I drove, I would try to lean over and hold every interior part within my reach just to see if I could make it stop. Little did I know (or ever suspect) that the problem was INSIDE the female belt buckle assembly wedged between the center console and the passenger's seat.
Upon further inspection, there seems to be some wiring that goes into this assembly from the bottom, so there's either an electronic switch or a relay of some sort in there that's defective. When I grab the top of the buckle and hold it steady, I can feel the clicking inside my hand. Whatever is in there, it's causing a tapping sensation that's hitting the outer cover of the buckle's assembly. Needless to say, once you hear it, you can't get the damn clicking sound out of your head!
I drove it to the dealer this afternoon and made an appointment for next week to have this issue resolved, along with my first oil change. I certainly hope that it's a quick fix and not something that will require tearing up the vehicle's interior! I'll update this thread next week with whatever information I get from the dealer.
By the way, if you're experiencing the same symptoms with your vehicle, you might want to take a look at the female belt buckle assembly. It just might be the culprit!
Here's a crappy video clip that I took of the incident as I was driving, just in case I needed to show the service manager:
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
UPDATE: I drove the whole weekend and the clicking never stopped, unless I had a passenger. In that case, the belt was buckled, which caused the clicking to stop.
On my way to the dealer, I was alone and the clicking continued.
(insert sarcasm) Miraculously, the technician could not reproduce the clicking sound!!!
When he and the service representative walked back to me to discuss the fact that he could not reproduce the clicking noise, I showed him the video I had taken. At that moment, they told me that they would order the female buckle assembly for me and that I should bring the vehicle back the following week. He told me that there were a few circuits inside that part that could've gone bad (seatbelt pretensioner and whatnot). He also explained that the entire center console would have to be removed in order to replace the faulty part. I agreed and went on my way.
Here's where it gets interesting.
When I left the dealer, the clicking noise stopped and has not returned.
Coincidence? I don't think so. I think he must've reset something. Personally, I don't care. The clicking noise is gone and that was the whole point of going there in the first place.
By the way, I called them and told them to return the part. If the clicking noise ever returns, I'll have them order it again and swap it out.
On my way to the dealer, I was alone and the clicking continued.
(insert sarcasm) Miraculously, the technician could not reproduce the clicking sound!!!
When he and the service representative walked back to me to discuss the fact that he could not reproduce the clicking noise, I showed him the video I had taken. At that moment, they told me that they would order the female buckle assembly for me and that I should bring the vehicle back the following week. He told me that there were a few circuits inside that part that could've gone bad (seatbelt pretensioner and whatnot). He also explained that the entire center console would have to be removed in order to replace the faulty part. I agreed and went on my way.
Here's where it gets interesting.
When I left the dealer, the clicking noise stopped and has not returned.
Coincidence? I don't think so. I think he must've reset something. Personally, I don't care. The clicking noise is gone and that was the whole point of going there in the first place.
By the way, I called them and told them to return the part. If the clicking noise ever returns, I'll have them order it again and swap it out.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
UPDATE: One month later and the clicking noise is still non-existent. It's too much of a coincidence that it stopped after my visit to the dealer, so I'm rather certain that the technician did something to stop the clicking. I just wish I knew what it was, so that I could let others know. Regardless, if you're hearing clicking around your front seat, check the female seatbelt buckle assembly.