Need Diagnosis of Clicking on Firewall

[blackmirage]

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Ok, I Dont know if I put that pic in right, but if I did, do you see that object with 2 vacuum lines running to it with the two yellow arrows? What is that and why is it that it starts clicking when the car gets warmed up and after you start to press the pedal and then it keeps going and then stops and then starts again.. What is it in the first place, and second why is it doing this and is it something I can pick up at the Auto Parts store and replace. By the way this is not a pic of my car, just didnt have a camera to take a pic of my friends car that we are working on. Its a 96 Talon TSI AWD

 

[diablos991]

Holy crap! I was just about to post about this. Mine is clicking as well. I don't know what it is.

If somebody with knowledge about what this part is, and what it does, or why its clicking, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[andymoraitis]

Here you go:

http://members.shaw.ca/dsm.1000q/Engineprimer/2G/solenoids.htm

Might want to bookmark the main page since it's a very good visual guide.

Since the proximity is close, you may want to test the ISC. Mine will click when I turn the key, but not while the motor's running. As an FYI, these parts are likely only available through the dealer.

Hopefully that points you in the right direction,

Andy

 

[blackmirage]

Thank you very much, thats exactly what we were looking for. Now for the 2nd part of the question. How much harm if any will it really do if we leave it unplugged until we get a replacement for it? I figure it shouldnt do any harm, its not like we have emissions checks here or anything either. So, what do you think?

 

[diablos991]

I don't think its doing any harm plugged in. Mine has been clicking for a good long while now. I would say that you should leave it plugged in until you track down the problem.

 

[blackmirage]

Well I'm figuring that the clicking is coming from a short or something, a failure of the solenoid of some sort. Hence the clicking. So its not working anyhow, and that clicking is ANNOYING, so if we leave it unplugged I wouldnt think it could do any more harm than having something thats not working plugged in. You see what I'm saying, its gonna perform the same if its plugged in or not. Or is my logic off?

 

[andymoraitis]

I have no solenoids on my firewall. If you want to run without those, you'll need to at least plug the vacuum lines that feed them otherwise you'll create some hellatious vacuum leaks. If you live in a state with emissions testing, I'd recommend doing that until you can replace the offending part. If not, they can come off, but you'll need to remove a bunch of stuff like the EGR and charcoal canister.

Anyway, I'm glad the visual guide helped. I still refer to it from time to time.

Edit: I can't believe I missed your thought about unlpugging. You can try it and see if it stops clicking, but if it's for the EGR/EVAP you may trip a CEL. It should at least suffice until you can replace it.