Ticking Behind Dash

2011 Taco, SR5, 5 speed manual, 74.8K miles.

Thanksgiving morning while driving, I hear a distinct ticking. It is 180-240 beats per minute, does not vary with engine speed or if truck is moving. Fan and radio turned off, I still hear the ticking. When I got home, I only heard the ticking with the motor running; switch turned on, silence.

When I shot the video (mp4, which I cannot upload), no ticking until I crank engine, but after the vid, the ticking is present when the switch is turned on. I feel a thumping when I place my hand on the passenger air bag.

 

Like from under the hood or just behind the dash in the cabin?

Did you try removing your loose items? I know sometimes if I put some paper or anything in certain places it will vibrate/rattle/tick.

 

To upload a video you have to upload to YouTube and then paste a link here.

 

I did check that, just now. It seems the ticking is coming from above the glovebox. I placed my hand on the passenger airbag, and felt a light throb matching the ticking.

 

Try turning the temp knob and recirc button and see of it changes. Most of the time it's an hvac actuator stuck

 

Remove your glove box and remove your cabin air filter. There may be some leaves and sticks and shit stuck in there

 

He said fan off still ticks

 

Hmmm. I’d still check because something in there closes with recirculation on (I think?). I just don’t really know what behind the glove box would be ticking.

 

Yeah I've never had an actuator issue with a tacoma, mostly Highlanders and Camry's.

 

And the ticking does stop when the air recirculation is ON (LED in the button is ON). I turn air recirculation off, allowing outside air in, and the ticking comes back in 2-4 seconds.

I have tried turning air recirculation ON then OFF a few times, no luck. Turned TEMP from cold to hot repeatedly, no help. Cycled through the heat, AC, defrost settings, no help.

As soon as fresh air enters the cabin, the ticking soon follows.

 

Definitely sounds like a bad recirc actuator. Recirc door is right above blower motor should be able to put your hand on it and possibly unplug it to confirm by taking glovebox out

 

The ticking happens when the fan is OFF, also.

 

I would start simple and just remove your cabin air and make sure it’s all clean in there.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--p2VYm8TSs

Video of the ticking. fan off, engine off.

 

Almost sounds like one of the AC door actuators from the video, even with the fan switch off the actuators will act up when they are bad.

 

Here is pic of cabin air filter.

 

Ever changed it out before? Fish you hand down into the fan below the air filter and make sure you don’t have debris down there.

 

Yeah what he said

 

Here is a vid of the ticking, accompanied by movement above the cabin filter box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNCf2BtMt1E

 

I change all filters, except this one.