My buddy has a dash noise. Can someone tell me what it is? Sounds like a mouse stuck in the dash trying to send morris code. As soon as the key is turned on, the noise starts.

 

Dam...that sounds like a "Suspense Thriller"....the mouse is going to pop out the glove box saying....."Heeeer's Johny!!!!!"...(mini butcher knife in hand)

MY guess: electric motor turning but hitting something..or not turning....wipers? AC vent little motors? don't remember if the 850's came with this option...sold mine and don't remember.

 

This morning it was tapping, clicking away. Then I flipped the MCC's recycle switch to recycle and the sound immediately stopped. I switched it back to fresh and still no sound. Any suggestions other than flipping the switch back and forth?

 

Its the gear driven Fresh air/recirc motor behind the glove box. The arm has most likely popped off the damper (common). The tapping you are hearing is the gears skipping teeth.

 

I'm with Boxpin, one of the damper door motors. Sounds like it's ratcheting and somethings hung up or broken.
Not sure if you can see anything if you just pull the panel under the glove box but I know you get a good look with the box out.

There are two motors in there on an ECC. One with an arm and one that slips into a plastic shaft. I'm guessing it's the one with the plastic shaft in pic 2 where it's split.
I went in to check mine and since I had it apart, I disassembled the motor, cleaned out the old dried up grease and reapplied some nice Mobil 1 synthetic.

 

Rumor has it that the MCC's have the motor built inside the dash unit and that the dash has to be pulled to get it out.

 

No, the MCC has the separate motor as well. I had mine do this too, but mine did it when I switched it to recycle, it stopped when I had it on fresh. I haven't fixed it yet because I prefer fresh air on all the time, but one day I will do it. I have pulled the glovebox out and it is clearly mounted on the side of the air box.

 

Crazy enough, the noise has not returned in 3 days and several drives. I'll wait to see if it comes back.

 

FYI, Did mine 94 850 MCC. I had a hard time finding a motor. The ECC looks exactly the same except one more connecting "blade" on the motor. My motor had broken gears AND the actuating arm was broken too. FCP has those but motor they sell is an ECC. Found a couple at the jy and thankfully they worked. I did it through the glove box but it was a total bi**h, no room! I THINK I have an extra if you want it. Yours for the asking! HTH.

 

Thanks, I'll let you know if I need it.

 

I read once that the travel of the fresh air motor is actually programmable through the A/B ports in the engine compartment. I thought wow when I read it then moved on. Maybe its travel is out of specs.

 

If you hit the recirc button the sound may come back.