Gas pedal high-frequency 'ticking' sensation and noise

Kernie_K · 10-06-2011, 04:37 PM

Hi,

I have a just nearly 2 months old UK F10 520d manual, bought from new. While I was driving just now, I felt something was 'ticking' under my gas pedal, like high frequency ticking that I can hear it and even feel it through my shoe, like something is 'knocking' or 'ticking' under the gas pedal. It is hard to explain, but it sounds like some 'sparking' noise from welding. It only happen at speed below 30MPH and below 3rd gear - didn't feel it while driving at around 70MPH. Not very loud, but definitely can hear and FEEL it!

I went on to touch the gas pedal and it seems to have slight heat on the pedal - not sure if it is due to the heating from the air conditioning, but the break and clutch pedals are cold.

This was the first time it happened, quite shocking! I don't expect to have any mechanical moving component under the gas pedal, and wondering would that be some kind of 'electric short circuit' thing happening down there? Or could that be the malfunction of cruise control?

I'm wondering if anyone has had this experience before? Please help!

Many thanks

Kernie

Needsdecaf · 10-07-2011, 07:16 AM

Does it only happen once after driving off? If so, that's the ABS self check.

Kernie_K · 10-07-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Does it only happen once after driving off? If so, that's the ABS self check.

No, it happens during driving randomly but only happens while light press on the gas pedal - like driving at rev below 1500rpm at low speed. I monitored it roday, and it happened again. The strange thing is that I can feel this light 'knocking' or 'ticking' feedback on my foot from the behind the pedal, what kind of mechanism in the gas pedal would actually does this kind of thing? It really puzzles me...!

radarguy · 10-08-2011, 07:00 AM

Since you also describe the ticking as a sparking noise, I suppose it is possible that the gas pedal position sensor is arcing over. The gas pedal has no mechanical connection to the engine controls. Instead an electrically driven sensor measures the pedal position and sends it to the engine control unit. However, if it were arcing over, I would think the whole contraption would stop working or blow a fuse.

Jon D · 10-08-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radarguy

Since you also describe the ticking as a sparking noise, I suppose it is possible that the gas pedal position sensor is arcing over. The gas pedal has no mechanical connection to the engine controls. Instead an electrically driven sensor measures the pedal position and sends it to the engine control unit. However, if it were arcing over, I would think the whole contraption would stop working or blow a fuse.

I think you have a very good point here, but I can't imagine that the voltage in the sensor/transmitter unit would be sufficient to arc over an air gap.

Kernie_K · 10-08-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon D

Quote:

Originally Posted by radarguy

Since you also describe the ticking as a sparking noise, I suppose it is possible that the gas pedal position sensor is arcing over. The gas pedal has no mechanical connection to the engine controls. Instead an electrically driven sensor measures the pedal position and sends it to the engine control unit. However, if it were arcing over, I would think the whole contraption would stop working or blow a fuse.

I think you have a very good point here, but I can't imagine that the voltage in the sensor/transmitter unit would be sufficient to arc over an air gap.

Many thanks for all your input!

The noise is definitely sounds like arcing from electric switch in which I also suspect, but like you guys would have thought this would be some kind of malfunction that will blow the fuse! Today it happened again, I'll observe this for a few more days and if it keeps happening then I'll send it to the dealer to have a check, but my main worry is as it happens quite randomly so the dealer might not pick that up while they have it!

At the mean time if any of you have this problem before, any info would be very much appreciated. Cheers!

Expatmarais · 10-09-2011, 03:17 PM

Hi there, I was getting this when in heavy traffic, diagnosed as a sticky mechanism that clicks at the hinge (spring loaded) when it gets warm. It has been fixed although im not sure what my dealer did. Hope this helps/reassures you.

BMWrules7 · 10-10-2011, 06:46 AM

Lol!

We put 50,000 Voltaires in z gas pedal. Z arc give z engine its schmoopernoodle!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon D

Quote:

Originally Posted by radarguy

Since you also describe the ticking as a sparking noise, I suppose it is possible that the gas pedal position sensor is arcing over. The gas pedal has no mechanical connection to the engine controls. Instead an electrically driven sensor measures the pedal position and sends it to the engine control unit. However, if it were arcing over, I would think the whole contraption would stop working or blow a fuse.

I think you have a very good point here, but I can't imagine that the voltage in the sensor/transmitter unit would be sufficient to arc over an air gap.

grahamcoxon · 10-10-2011, 10:16 AM

Had exactly the same thing.

Took it to the dealer and we couldn't get it to repeat the noise (typical!) but fair play to them, they took it away for the day and found a crack in the throttle mechanism which was replaced the next day.

Kernie_K · 10-12-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahamcoxon

Had exactly the same thing.

Took it to the dealer and we couldn't get it to repeat the noise (typical!) but fair play to them, they took it away for the day and found a crack in the throttle mechanism which was replaced the next day.

Many thanks for your info! The problem is still bugging me. It's sounds like I definitely need a trip to the dealer! I'll keep u guys posted about the progress.

dogruyolk · 10-19-2011, 08:09 AM

I had the exactly same problem on my 2011 520d. Just left the dealer. Annoying ticking sound seems to be gone. When i asked them what they have done, they told me that there was dirt around the spring under the pedal and they cleaned and lubricated it.

I will test it within a week and leave a feedback how it goes...

10-06-2011, 04:37 PM	#1
Kernie_K New Member 2 Rep 18 Posts Drives: F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Nottingham, UK iTrader: (0)	Gas pedal high-frequency 'ticking' sensation and noise Hi, I have a just nearly 2 months old UK F10 520d manual, bought from new. While I was driving just now, I felt something was 'ticking' under my gas pedal, like high frequency ticking that I can hear it and even feel it through my shoe, like something is 'knocking' or 'ticking' under the gas pedal. It is hard to explain, but it sounds like some 'sparking' noise from welding. It only happen at speed below 30MPH and below 3rd gear - didn't feel it while driving at around 70MPH. Not very loud, but definitely can hear and FEEL it! I went on to touch the gas pedal and it seems to have slight heat on the pedal - not sure if it is due to the heating from the air conditioning, but the break and clutch pedals are cold. This was the first time it happened, quite shocking! I don't expect to have any mechanical moving component under the gas pedal, and wondering would that be some kind of 'electric short circuit' thing happening down there? Or could that be the malfunction of cruise control? I'm wondering if anyone has had this experience before? Please help! Many thanks Kernie
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10-07-2011, 07:16 AM	#2
Needsdecaf Major General 6586 Rep 6,690 Posts Drives: 2024 G80 Comp xDrive Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Woodlands, TX iTrader: (0)	Does it only happen once after driving off? If so, that's the ABS self check.
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10-08-2011, 07:00 AM	#4
radarguy Second Lieutenant 92 Rep 203 Posts Drives: 2024 M440ix, 2023 X3 M40ix Join Date: May 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Since you also describe the ticking as a sparking noise, I suppose it is possible that the gas pedal position sensor is arcing over. The gas pedal has no mechanical connection to the engine controls. Instead an electrically driven sensor measures the pedal position and sends it to the engine control unit. However, if it were arcing over, I would think the whole contraption would stop working or blow a fuse.
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10-09-2011, 03:17 PM	#7
Expatmarais New Member 1 Rep 25 Posts Drives: f10 535d MSport Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Paris iTrader: (0)	Hi there, I was getting this when in heavy traffic, diagnosed as a sticky mechanism that clicks at the hinge (spring loaded) when it gets warm. It has been fixed although im not sure what my dealer did. Hope this helps/reassures you.
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10-10-2011, 10:16 AM	#9
grahamcoxon Private 21 Rep 77 Posts Drives: BMW X5 G05 3.0D M Sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: York, UK. iTrader: (0)	Had exactly the same thing. Took it to the dealer and we couldn't get it to repeat the noise (typical!) but fair play to them, they took it away for the day and found a crack in the throttle mechanism which was replaced the next day.
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10-19-2011, 08:09 AM	#11
dogruyolk New Member 10 Rep 19 Posts Drives: Bmw F10 520d Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cyprus iTrader: (0)	I had the exactly same problem on my 2011 520d. Just left the dealer. Annoying ticking sound seems to be gone. When i asked them what they have done, they told me that there was dirt around the spring under the pedal and they cleaned and lubricated it. I will test it within a week and leave a feedback how it goes...
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