strange electrical buzzing/clicking sound when car off

[idbagh1]

I've had my Protege 5 for around six months now. I just noticed that I'm getting a strange electrical buzzing/relay type sound coming from the front end of my car when the car is off. I notice it after I drive and go to the front of the car. It doesn't happen all the time. The car is off and all electricals are off. Any idea what that is? I'm going to call the mazda dealer tommorow to see what's up. As far as I'm concerned the car should not make any relay type sounds at all especailly when car is off. Thanks for the advice in advance. Greg

 

[fastdrvr23]

I know this may seem way out there, but it might be your catalytic converter cooling off. It is a raspy metallic sort of pinging that will last for a few minutes after the car shuts off. Try raising the hood after driving, and listen to the are around the exhaust manifold... It's worth a shot anyways. Good luck.

 

[idbagh1]

Thanks fastdrvr23. I thought catalytic convertors make a crackling sound when cooling? My sound is more like a bzzz bzzz sound. It surely sounds somewhat electrical to me. I'll check again for a raspy type sound. Do you geta sound from your catalytic convertor? Greg

 

[fastdrvr23]

Thanks fastdrvr23. I thought catalytic convertors make a crackling sound when cooling? My sound is more like a bzzz bzzz sound. It surely sounds somewhat electrical to me. I'll check again for a raspy type sound. Do you geta sound from your catalytic convertor? Greg

That's right... For some reason the Cat. in my P5 makes a metallic popping sound instead of the normal tinny metal sound my other vehicles make. My P5 has done it from day one. You might have the heat shield from the exhaust manifold touching something... Hmmm, let me know what you figure out..

Will

PS> By the way, Welcome to the board!

 

[LinuxRacr]

Could it be the air conditioner compressor decompressing?

 

[idbagh1]

Thanks Linuxracr. But.... i've never heard of an airconditioner (compressor?) decompressing. I thought vehicle A/C systems are considered "closed" systems? By the way, I called the dealer and they never heard of a Protege5 making bzz bzz sounds from the engine compartment. I told them the car drives fines and I don't seem to have any electrical problems although I get the intermittent bzz bzz sounds. They want me to find out if there is any pattern with the sounds. After a long drive, I'm going to stop and open my hood to listen for the sounds again. It doesn't happen all the time and sometimes it doesn't happen right away. I might have to wait a minute or so after I stop.

 

[WShade]

My car does the same thing every once in a while also. Dont worry about it. I think its the radiator, but cant be sure. Scared me the first time I heard it

 

[WaatDaHell]

I've had my Protege 5 for around six months now. I just noticed that I'm getting a strange electrical buzzing/relay type sound coming from the front end of my car when the car is off. I notice it after I drive and go to the front of the car. It doesn't happen all the time. The car is off and all electricals are off. Any idea what that is? I'm going to call the mazda dealer tommorow to see what's up. As far as I'm concerned the car should not make any relay type sounds at all especailly when car is off. Thanks for the advice in advance. Greg

It's nothing to worry about. It's just making noises cuz it's cooling off. I believe it's the radiator or the cat converter like they said. I have that too when my car just turned off. After hard driving especially, you'll hear the converter "tinging" a lot more. My brother is an auto mechanic but I'll ask him about it to be exact, but it's normal. My old Honda Accord's fan turns on when I turn the car off so it could cool of the engine and other parts in the engine bay, so it's pretty similar. I'll get back to you for the exact answer though

 

[idbagh1]

Thanks guys for your replies. The dealer said they could do nothing as the sound is intermittent. They said just watch and listen for a pattern. I can live with it if the car is just cooling off. The fan does not turn on like my Honda I sold and replaced it with the MP5. Tinging sound is one thing but a bzzzbzz? Let me know what your brother finds out for sure. Love my Mazda!