Mechanical Cricket in my car

[marko-polo]

Dear all,

dunno if any of you have experienced this strange phenomenon ....got a cricket-like sound coming from the front passenger dash area when I first start the car in the morning which gradually goes away once the car's all warmed up. Suspected that it had something to do with the air conditioner blower, but not to be cause the noise still comes on without the airconditioner.

ride is a 2002 e39 520ia

 

[BMWorkshop]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

u can come down to BMWorkshop to have yr car check or call Michael...

 

[hnwong]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Have the same problem with my car during the 2nd year. PML manage to solve after 3 visits. I suspect the problems are from those electronic relays mouted near the dashboard.

My car is of the same model and years as yours.

 

[marko-polo]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Thanks for the reply.

Went by PML a couple of times but each time I was there, the sound somehow failed to come on. Was also told by a workshop well partonised by beemers that the idle tensioner bearings have failed, which kinda corresponded with the increased noise levels coming from under the hood.

AT this point in time, still darn confused but one good thing is that the noise is staying on much longer and will (hopefully) make "diagnosis" a little easier

 

[flyboy]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

marko-polo,

I had that sound too and like u, my wife described as 'crickret-like'. I went back a couple of times and had to leave the car there overnight so that they can hear the problem especially in the morning when the car is not warmed up. Eventually they managed to trouble shoot the problem and concluded it was some air con blower stuff thing. The cricket never came back.

Cheers!

 

[CricketWee]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Hi marko-polo,

Used to own a VW Golf MkIII before my beemer. I'll subscribe to the tensioner bearing suggestion made by some of the workshops you've visited. It happened to my Golf twice over my 4 year ownership. Cost about $40 to replace the bearing. Symptoms experienced are exactly as what you've described.

ie. Longer cricket like noise as days go by, only occurs when the engine is cold... etc.

However, not sure if the E39 series have got similar tensioner bearing setup. Perhaps the air-con compressor's tensioner bearing is the one wearing off.

Suggest you can open your bonnet and turn on your car in the mornings to confirm whether it's louder around the compressor region.

Cheers,

 

[marko-polo]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

marko-polo,

I had that sound too and like u, my wife described as 'crickret-like'. I went back a couple of times and had to leave the car there overnight so that they can hear the problem especially in the morning when the car is not warmed up. Eventually they managed to trouble shoot the problem and concluded it was some air con blower stuff thing. The cricket never came back.

Cheers!

Thanks for the input, I'm kinda torn between the two propositioms actually caue just the other day, the blower was kinda acting up, fan speed remained the same regardless of where the dial was turned to. Would appreciate your feedback as to what exactly the probelm was, a fellow forumer said it had something to do with the relays, but relays being a low voltage switch in itself (if there are any electrical engineers around, would love to hear your views on this), temperature shouldn't have any impact on it rite?

Autually cut off the air-conditioner when the sounds came on expecting it to disappear, but lo and behold, the aircon went off but the little mechanical crickets just kept creeking at me. LOL

 

[marko-polo]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Hi marko-polo,

Used to own a VW Golf MkIII before my beemer. I'll subscribe to the tensioner bearing suggestion made by some of the workshops you've visited. It happened to my Golf twice over my 4 year ownership. Cost about $40 to replace the bearing. Symptoms experienced are exactly as what you've described.

ie. Longer cricket like noise as days go by, only occurs when the engine is cold... etc.

However, not sure if the E39 series have got similar tensioner bearing setup. Perhaps the air-con compressor's tensioner bearing is the one wearing off.

Suggest you can open your bonnet and turn on your car in the mornings to confirm whether it's louder around the compressor region.

Cheers,

Thanks for the input, and yes, I'd made it a point almost every morning until a couple of days ago to go flip open the hood to check if the sound was indeed commin' from the belt/tension pulleys. Whilst there is indeed more noise than ususal, the sund I hear appears to be coming from inside the cabin itself rather than from the engine bay. The beemer is a fairly well insulated car which leaves me to postulate if the sound is from the belt/pulleys.

Gues I'd have to wait a bit more ya?

 

[hnwong]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Hi Marko-polo

I got my air-con blower fixed just 3 months back by PML. Face the same problem and PML need 2 days to fixed it.
After collecting the car, i noticed the blower is giving much colder air and the air draft is much stronger. I think PML
replaced a new blower but they charged me for replacing the micro filter.

 

[marko-polo]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

Hi Marko-polo

I got my air-con blower fixed just 3 months back by PML. Face the same problem and PML need 2 days to fixed it.
After collecting the car, i noticed the blower is giving much colder air and the air draft is much stronger. I think PML
replaced a new blower but they charged me for replacing the micro filter.

What!!!! A free blow (I mean blower) for the price of a micro filter??? You must have most certainly charmed the CSA in attendance.

As for my ride, the verdict is out, both camps are right - the tensioner/idle bearings needs replacement and the mechanical cricket actually is the blower resistor pack screaming out for some attention. Will be sending it in for a FOC replacement next week.

To all who have given me your valuable feedback, A BIG THANK YOU

 

[marko-polo]

Re: Mechanical Cricket in my car

All E39ers out there, just an update so that hopefully you guys don't go out and spend money unnecessarily.

1) Had the idle pulleys changed at one of the workshop found in the list but it didn't solve the problem. "Cricket" was still very much alive

2) Had the resistor pack changed - didn't do much good

3) Had the control regulator unit changed and viola! Everything's back to normal again

Thanks once again for all the inputs from the good bros out there! Much appreciate it