Q: There is a ticking noise coming from the dash when I unlock the car, what is it?

asked by on September 24, 2016

When I unlock my car with the key remote or even when I manually unlock it, I get a loud ticking sound coming from the dash, and it stops after driving for a few minutes.

My car has 73000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

This is a notorious issue with this model of Impala. The noise you are hearing is most likely the blend door actuator attempting to move to its default position but is not able to do so. This repair usually requires the blend door actuator to be replaced. This is often times a very costly repair as the dash sometimes needs to be removed from the vehicle in order to access the blend door actuator. If this repair is to be done, I would strongly recommend having the repair done by a qualified professional.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Dashboard lights not working
Hi. The common problem with dash lights going out is a power inverter malfunction. The only fix is to replace the whole dashboard. I would check the fuses for the dash lights first and if they are okay, the problem...
Battery died while driving
It sounds like a replacement alternator is in your near future. The battery is basically just a storage device that must be charged by the alternator. Without this consistent charging, the battery will quickly become dead. A trained professional will...
Brake pedal going straight to the floor
Hello. The brake pedal going to the floor is a common symptom of a faulty master cylinder. The master cylinder will usually fail due to an internal or an external leak. In your case I believe the leak is internal...
A warning light came on, then the car lost power
This is something that will require firsthand inspection by a professional. I'm guessing when you say the warning light looks like someone laying down, you're talking about the supplemental restraint (SRS) warning light. This indicates a problem in the restraint...
Fuel gauge and temperature gauge not working.
The fuel gauge not reading properly may be likely related to your fuel sending unit (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-gauge-sender-replacement) or the gauge in the dash itself. The sending unit is a small float type component inside your fuel tank that measures the level...
Engine erratic behavior, misfiring hard starting every now and then
Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems, but there are a few suspects that occur more than others. Generally, misfires are caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in cases, a combination of both. Spark related...
Car not running
It sounds like you have at least two issues, the check engine light has come on accompanied by loss of power and you have an antifreeze leak. The source of antifreeze leaks can be pinpointed by simple pressure testing of...
My car stopped blowing heat and air out of the vents and on the floor.
This may be related to a faulty blower motor or blower motor relay. Occasionally, the blower motor itself will wear out or become faulty working intermittently as the brush contacts inside the motor wear out. The blower motor relay (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/blower-motor-relay-replacement)...
2002 jaguar x type shifts hard in lower gears until gearbox fault light comes on and then seems to shift normally
The transmission has a defective sensor and when check engine light comes on the computer is ignoring bad sensor and will go into failure mode and may shift better. Have computer scanned and codes tested to isolate the faulty sensor....

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
The The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox stands out in the small SUV class for its affordable price, its high-powered engine, and its plethora of features. While the Honda CR-V has led this class for years, the Chevrolet Equinox is positioned to...
2005 Jeep Wrangler vs. 2005 Chevrolet Blazer: Which One Should I Buy?
Sport SUVs are a class all of their own; these vehicles are meant for a fun drive through the woods and across the trail – but not necessarily to Grandma’s house! Think instead about going through the creek and through...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Mobile Housekeeper
If If you are a mobile housekeeper, chances are that you are looking for a small, reliable used vehicle that offers good gas mileage and enough space to store your supplies. With that in mind, we present to you the...