Clicking sound, at speed, near driver's door hinge/floorboard

[c3k]

Folks,

I just picked up my new truck (see sig). I've owned it since Friday. I love it. But...

Within just a few minutes of driving it on the highway...there is an issue.

When disturbed air hits the truck (like a vehicle in front of me or an 18 wheeler next to me), at "highway speeds" (<-- I'll try to narrow it down later, but above 60 mph or so) then I get a clicking sound. It sounds like the turn signal, but is not. It sounds like a relay going beserk. It seems to originate just under the driver's left foot (near the bottom of the door hinge or under the truck).

My assumption is that something is loose. I am still driving it home (Seattle to NC). So, I'll do a belly-crawl in a day or so.

Meantime, I wanted to know if anyone else had a similar issue. Also, whether anyone knows offhand if there are any relays located in that area? (My guess if it's a relay is that the aero dam my be getting cycled.)

The sound goes from a click a second to multiple clicks per second. Again, only when disturbed air hits the truck.

Thanks for any ideas.

Ken

 

[GATORB8]

Congrats.

That’s a hell of a drive to listen to clicking the whole way.

any dealer added options?

 

[c3k]

Congrats.

That’s a hell of a drive to listen to clicking the whole way.

any dealer added options?

No. The only options are in my sig. All are factory.

And the clicking is only when someone is in front of me or large and next to me. (The disturbed air idea is my observation. I'm certainly not wedded to it, but it's a start.)

My plan is to make an appointment for a ride-along next week. Then... Well, we'll see.

 

[GATORB8]

Sounds wierd, but soft Tonneau?

 

[c3k]

Sounds wierd, but soft Tonneau?

Thanks, but no. No tonneau.

(I'm aware, implicit in your question, that some sounds seem to originate in odd places due to how it travels through the frame. This really sounds just like a loud relay. That's the best way I can describe it.)

 

[GATORB8]

Was asking since the clip on the front of mine can tap the rear of the cab if it’s just slightly too far forward, very similar annoying sound dependent on other vehicles at speed.

 

[GATORB8]

Hmm, what about the frame dampener actuator. Not sure if your ED has it, but it’s meant to counteract the MDS. Would occur at highway speeds. Even if it was just loose could do something like that.

 

[c3k]

Hmm, what about the frame dampener actuator. Not sure if your ED has it, but it’s meant to counteract the MDS. Would occur at highway speeds. Even if it was just loose could do something like that.

I like the idea. Where is it, and what does it look like?

My plan is to look, poke, and prod underneath it on Thursday. If I can't find evidence of rubbing or vibrating, I'll get a dealer ride-along.

 

[GATORB8]

Best info I could find: https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/two-general-questions.14031/

 

[c3k]

Best info I could find: https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/two-general-questions.14031/

Thanks. I just got in from my 3,000 mile break-in drive. (Seattle to North Carolina.) It is raining. I will crawl underneath tomorrow and look around. That link helped.

 

[Scram1500]

My 4th gen had a clicking at speed from the door hinge area, turned out to be a loose plastic cover that protected the weather strip in the lower front corner of the door

 

[c3k]

My 4th gen had a clicking at speed from the door hinge area, turned out to be a loose plastic cover that protected the weather strip in the lower front corner of the door

That really helps!
Thank you.

 

[Scram1500]

This was the spot, little different now on the 5th gen, but the push pins weren't fully seated

 

[c3k]

This was the spot, little different now on the 5th gen, but the push pins weren't fully seatedView attachment 93216

Mine is a little loose, too. The driver's side is about the same as the passenger, but it may only take a slight difference in retention to make a big difference in vibration. I only had the issue on the driver's side.

I'll secure the driver's side and give it a test drive tomorrow and report back.

Thanks.

 

[c3k]

UPDATE:

This morning, I pulled off the offending Push Pins. In fact, I removed the entire weather strip inside the hinges of the Driver Door, and added 3M body tape. Then I put the Push Pins back in. Pix...



Other Pix

 

[c3k]

^^^
Other than the coffee, the most useful tool was the silver-shafted push pin remover. (I've got several varieties: that one worked best given the space, access and types of pins.)

The 3M tape seems to have done the trick. I peeled off the red tape protector, exposing the adhesive and then I reinstalled the weather strip, put the pins back in, and then pressed it down to secure it to the double-sided 3M tape.

The tape was not perfect. The weather stripping seems to not adhere as well as I'd thought it would.

I gave it a test drive and did not hear the clicking I'd heard before. As of now...I'll call it "tentatively" fixed. In another week or so of driving I'll feel more confident.

A shoutout to @Scram1500 for pointing me towards this solution. Thank you!

Ken

Edited to add: yes, I see that the door wire harness rubber boot appears half-off. I did that...and then spent 30 minutes fixing it. What a PITA.