Signal Relay making click noise after releasing brake pedal

I have a relay that intermittantly goes nuts after releasing the brake pedal. It doesn't do it all the time and sometimes it goes away right away or takes a while. It stops as soon as you press the brake pedal. Is this probably the brake switch?

Does it sound like the turn signal relay?

Yes it does, but only does it intermittantly when releasing or already having the brake pedal released.

Where is the relay located? If it sounds like under the hood, that's kind of what the ABS pump sounds like when it activates - a relay going nuts like a buzzing sound almost but a little coarser than a buzz...

No buzz. Sounds more like a turn signal on, but it's not related as far as I know. The sound is from in the dash on the driver side somewhere.

suggest you check your turn signal and CHMSL bulbs for burnout (brakes and turn) and as well look at wiring for chafing or water damage issues at body panel pass-thrus.

Albertj

Cars been in a garage and not been wet. I've already replaced all burned out bulbs throughout the whole car.

This is what I think the problem is.

Link

Easiest way to test: unplug your turn signal and see if the problem goes away.

Identifying and fixing the issue are completely different. I used to have the same problem, so I replaced the turn signal (which was burned out). This did not fix the issue, and it progressed into the turn signal randomly coming on at certain times. However, it does not actually signal the exterior lamps.

I think, but am not sure, this has something to do with the LCM (lamp control module). It doesn't happen all the time, and so hasn't given me good reason to spend time or money fixing.

My 2 cents:
If the brake-light switch was the problem, it wouldn't make a rhythmic sound... It would (if at all) make a shorting sound when you used the brake. From what you describe, I'm much more inclined to thing it's a bad flasher, especially since the flashers are mounted to the lower section of the steering column.

Anyone have any insight into this old thread?

The wife's 98 has started doing this. First start up it sounds like the turn signal is clicking a couple of times. Then often at random times after pressing the brake petal, or when shifting to park, there is a "click". And now and then when driving usually when getting off the brake. The signal indicator lights don't come on during the click on the dash or outside the car when this happens.

LCM? bulbs?

I'm baffled by it. I think it may have something to do with system voltage (which varies all the time), and possibly the LCM. On my car, it will occur for a few minutes, then go away for a couple months.

I still havent done anything about it. It still comes back once in a while then goes away. Just like you just said AA. It does just that. One of these days when it gets more annoying I'll look further into it.

Interesting to me is this only seems to happen with '98 models. Albertj has also noticed it with his '98.

That is weird.

AA wrote:

Interesting to me is this only seems to happen with '98 models. Albertj has also noticed it with his '98.

Correct - I think it's maybe "conductive sludge" in the turn signal switch, but have not been to a pickapart to get a junk one to rip apart. Basically if that is the case then what is happening is the turn signal relay is getting power but the switch is not set for a right or left turn -- the power to the turn signal flasher is different from the power to either exterior bulb circuit. It does nto take much power to excite an electronic flasher.

I have not done the troubleshooting yet. I am thinking turn signal switch, brake switch, or LCM. Reason I suspect maybe brake switch is mine will stop doing the phantom flash if you step on the brake. But again, I have not done troubleshooting yet so I Really Do Not Know. It's a priority for me to fix (do you have any idea how annoying that sucker is?!!?) but not my top one at the moment.

In one case when I heard the sound, I tried defeating it by hitting the hazard switch. I believe the click I'm hearing is from the hazard flasher relay, not the turn signal. Not sure, but mine have two distinct sounds, and this really seems to be the flasher in my case.

More info on this, in case anyone is searching. The wife's 98 is pretty bad. Some mornings just after starting it is really firing off the rapid fire "ticking." I was able to hit the hazard light switch and it "took over" with normal relay noise. After turning off the hazard light switch everything was ok again. The only drivability thing that I've noticed so far is recently I had the cruse control on during a long trip. I got a random "tick" which also disabled the CC much like hitting the brake petal. I had to hit "resume" on the stalk to get back in cruise mode. Anyway, just a bit more to chew on. If this gets too bad its possible I'll find a fix to save the rest of you the trouble.

Hmm. Interesting. Mine does not act up very often, but the next time it does I will be trying this to see what happens. Thanks for the information.

Have you tried adjusting the brake light switch? This would make the park release 'tick' and also would disengage your cruise control.

No I haven't messed with anything yet. It's been actually a month I think since it last did it now.

I am going to replace my brake light switch, although I think the problem is probably in teh turn signal switch. Can't test now, car is in shop for transmission work.

I realize this is an old thread. For what it is worth, I had a relay clicking sound every time I would step on the brake pedal if the headlights were on (I'm guessing it was coming from the LCM, it definitely wasn't a turn signal relay click). Oddly, With the turn signal on there would be no clicking at all, even with the headlights on. Turns out both of my third brake light bulbs were burned out, replacing them solved the clicking.

This is an old thread, LOL. Forgot I ever posted it. I still have that clicking from the brake switch when I release the brake pedal some times. It has never gotten worse or failed so since it does it so little often I haven't worried about it yet. 7 years later and it's still working, lol.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

This is an old thread, LOL.  Forgot I ever posted it.  I still have that clicking from the brake switch when I release the brake pedal some times.  It has never gotten worse or failed so since it does it so little often I haven't worried about it yet.  7 years later and it's still working, lol.

I learned from a "gearhead" at my local GM dealer that on these cars the phantom clicking could be a bad flasher OR when the brake/taillight bulbs get old enough, he said "near burning out," the flasher can have a 'phantom' click. His approach to fixing it was, "cheapest first." First replace the bulbs or the flasher, then if you replaced the bulbs and the problem persists replace the flasher. Problem still persists, you probably have conductive mud in the turn signal switch. Temporary fix is to move (do not whack) the turn signal stalk back and forth rapidly for 15 seconds or so (this tends to move the mud away from the contact wipers inside the switch) and the problem should go away for a while. Eventually you will need/want to replace the switch (26052428 on a '98). They are expensive, if you can find them, so don't horse them.

What I would do: If your flasher is old, replace it and the bulbs, all at once so they match. You can take the used ones to use on other cars or save as spares in the glove compartment. If you still have the phantom clicking, you're in for a switch at some point. I have my old switch, I have not yet taken it apart to see if it can be repaired.