tiky noise? but only in cab?

[dannydrifter]

hello fellow e30 owners. im getting a very annoying and embarrassing noise tiky bit like when your exhaust manifolds popin a bit but iv replaced gaskets and checked for leaks its not that.just seams to be inside the noise is any ideas?

[Brianmoooore]

Either reverse the heater pipes on the bulkhead. (One from the back of the head must go to the lower bulkhead stub), or push a bit of blutack into the hole in the centre of the steering column. (Remove centre badge/horn push.)

[dannydrifter]

nice 1 thanks. what happens when the heater pipes are on the wrong way? would that cause a tiky noise? its nothing to do with horn or any panel rattle. not there on idle can come and go to

[Brianmoooore]

The tick from the steering column would be nothing to do with the horn, but caused by a plug falling out of the lower end of the hollow steering column, allowing noises from the engine compartment into the cabin. Because of the acoustic properties of a long narrow tube, the noise that emerges at the top is a tick.
There's an electric valve on the LH side of the heater box that ticks at certain engine revs, and is eventually damaged, if the coolant passing through it is flowing in the wrong direction.

[dannydrifter]

got you. that makes perfect sense. il try it first thing tomorrow many thanks for your advice

[dannydrifter]

hi brian did what you advised and bingo it was the steering collum. bit of blue tack job done no more tiky noise. many thanks