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Original poster

Stupid question about your cars

16 replies

GlitteryFarts · 19/10/2023 20:02

Possibly a stupid question but I thought better to ask here than to make a fool of myself in real life!

I have recently got a lovely new (to me) shiney car but have an insane paranoia about it breaking! I think because its the most expensive purchase I have ever braved and know how even more expensive repairs can be.

I have noticed when sitting in the car after turning it off (for example when I get to school pickup early so have 5 minutes to chill) that once turned off it makes lots of electrical and clicky noises like electrics are still doing things....only the odd one then silence...then another...then a hum...and another click etc. It stops after a minute or two. Seems to be coming from the dash controls. Is this normal car noise or should I be concerned the electrics are playing up? Nobody in my family drives so I can't ask them and would love to know if other cars do it too?

OP posts:
tootrueblue · 19/10/2023 20:10

Yep, normal. My BMW does this, closing some of its internal vents etc

Original poster
GlitteryFarts · 19/10/2023 20:10

Just to add - this is after very short drives too so not the car cooling as I doubt it would get very hot. I work very close to the school so collect on the way home which is further away and notice it after a 5 min drive on 20 or 30 mph roads.

OP posts:
Libertass · 19/10/2023 20:14

That sounds fairly normal. Most modern cars are very reliable. As long as it doesn’t say ‘Land Rover’ or ‘Range Rover’ on the badge, you shouldn’t have any problems.

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Driving & parking
VeniVidiWeeWee · 19/10/2023 20:26

GlitteryFarts · 19/10/2023 20:10

Just to add - this is after very short drives too so not the car cooling as I doubt it would get very hot. I work very close to the school so collect on the way home which is further away and notice it after a 5 min drive on 20 or 30 mph roads.

I hope it isn't a diesel.

Original poster
GlitteryFarts · 19/10/2023 20:33

No, its a petrol, and not a land rover haha. Thankyou, glad to hear its normal!

OP posts:
amusedbush · 19/10/2023 20:37

tootrueblue · 19/10/2023 20:10

Yep, normal. My BMW does this, closing some of its internal vents etc

I have a Seat and the vents do this, so I agree that the clicking is normal.

As an aside, I found out after I bought it that Seats have horrendous condensation problems for six months of the year because the vents all close automatically. "It's a known design flaw," I was told. "Spain doesn't get that cold so it's only a problem in the UK" 😒

WonderingWanda · 19/10/2023 20:48

My car does the same, all sorts of weird clicks and buzzing sounds.

Shade17 · 19/10/2023 21:07

Yep completely normal. Cars don’t fully sleep for a few mins after you switch the ignition off.

ThirdDressStress · 19/10/2023 21:43

Mine makes a hell of a racket when turned off cooling down.

NC4Obvs · 20/10/2023 07:03

Yep my 72 plate Kia (petrol) makes loads of noise when it's just been turned off.

Carnewb · 20/10/2023 07:19

amusedbush · 19/10/2023 20:37

I have a Seat and the vents do this, so I agree that the clicking is normal.

As an aside, I found out after I bought it that Seats have horrendous condensation problems for six months of the year because the vents all close automatically. "It's a known design flaw," I was told. "Spain doesn't get that cold so it's only a problem in the UK" 😒

Show quote history

Oh really 😔 I have a Seat, what do you do (if anything) to help/stop it happening?
I'm new to car ownership and though I do have the demist most mornings for a while, thought it was just normal.
Would one of those damp traps help do you think?

amusedbush · 20/10/2023 08:22

Carnewb · 20/10/2023 07:19

Oh really 😔 I have a Seat, what do you do (if anything) to help/stop it happening?
I'm new to car ownership and though I do have the demist most mornings for a while, thought it was just normal.
Would one of those damp traps help do you think?

Show quote history

I’m afraid I have been told by a couple of people ‘in the know’ that there’s nothing you can do to stop it happening, in terms of the car itself. It’s a long-term, known design flaw 😩

However, I got some reusable dehumidifier beanbag things from Amazon and they are pretty good. I have also made my own little dehumidifiers using cat litter 😅 they do help to some extent but on very cold mornings, the inside of the windscreen is covered in ice and it takes so bloody long to get rid of it. If I don’t clear it fully before I set off, it starts to melt and run down the inside of the glass. I also have to keep the the windscreen spotless (Halfords’ own brand glass cloths are the best I have found) because the constant wiping of condensation makes it streaky, which is terrible for driving in low winter sun.

I have a Seat Arona and overall, it’s the best car I’ve ever had but I really could live without the condensation!

GPTec1 · 20/10/2023 08:31

I ve modern Skoda, even after a short 5 or 10min drive, fans etc still keep going, the car has an additional electronic water pump, which keeps circulating to ensure the car cools properly, there is also a computer controlled active air vent to the radiator which shuts air to the rad to help the car reach temp more quickly, this then opens when the car is switched off.

If your concerned, ring up a main dealer and ask.

Spin4Gin · 20/10/2023 08:35

Libertass · 19/10/2023 20:14

That sounds fairly normal. Most modern cars are very reliable. As long as it doesn’t say ‘Land Rover’ or ‘Range Rover’ on the badge, you shouldn’t have any problems.

My Land Rover is almost 10 years old and never put a foot wrong, it's a brilliant car!

Seeline · 20/10/2023 08:37

amusedbush · 20/10/2023 08:22

I’m afraid I have been told by a couple of people ‘in the know’ that there’s nothing you can do to stop it happening, in terms of the car itself. It’s a long-term, known design flaw 😩

However, I got some reusable dehumidifier beanbag things from Amazon and they are pretty good. I have also made my own little dehumidifiers using cat litter 😅 they do help to some extent but on very cold mornings, the inside of the windscreen is covered in ice and it takes so bloody long to get rid of it. If I don’t clear it fully before I set off, it starts to melt and run down the inside of the glass. I also have to keep the the windscreen spotless (Halfords’ own brand glass cloths are the best I have found) because the constant wiping of condensation makes it streaky, which is terrible for driving in low winter sun.

I have a Seat Arona and overall, it’s the best car I’ve ever had but I really could live without the condensation!

Show quote history

This makes me sad. I got a brand new seat Ateca in May and love it. It is so much better than my previous qashqai in every area. I was really looking forward to a winter where it didn't take 8hrs to demist and that was after having to scrape the ice off the inside of the windscreen. Doesn't sound as though my lovely shiny new car is going to be any better! It shouldn't be that hard to sort out - my older cars never had such a problem.

amusedbush · 20/10/2023 09:02

Seeline · 20/10/2023 08:37

This makes me sad. I got a brand new seat Ateca in May and love it. It is so much better than my previous qashqai in every area. I was really looking forward to a winter where it didn't take 8hrs to demist and that was after having to scrape the ice off the inside of the windscreen. Doesn't sound as though my lovely shiny new car is going to be any better! It shouldn't be that hard to sort out - my older cars never had such a problem.

Show quote history

I’m sorry! And I hope yours isn’t as bad as mine but it seems to be really common due to the design of the car (I’ve looked on Seat forms and there are a lot of posts complaining about it).

For me, ‘demisting’ doesn’t even cover it. All winter, my windscreen is absolutely soaked and I have to mop it up with paper towels and cloths, before polishing the streaks with a glass cloth. It’s really bloody annoying and pretty much the only thing I would change about the car!

I thought it was just a problem with my car and I changed various things, thinking that would solve it, but the Seat dealership, my normal mechanic and my brother (who is a mechanic) said it’s just what the cars are like 😩

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