Ticking noise from under the bonnet when parked and locked.
 

The ZTT 190 has randomly started a ticking from under the bonnet. I went out to investigate and my key fob didn't work so I can't raise up the hood. I knew the key fob battery was low, but the fob worked normally on Thursday night when I parked and locked. There was no apparent noise on Friday when I passed the car outside so it must have started entirely randomly late Friday afternoon. I've now changed the battery in the fob. Old cell was 2.9v and the new one 3.25. Red light is working but no response. I tried the key manually, but nothing engaged in the lock. The ticking has been going now for at least 12 hours. The rate is two ticks per second and can be clearly heard 20' away from the car. Any suggestions urgently invited please before the battery goes flat.

Hello Martin,

You're saying that inserting the key into the driver's door lock and rotating it through 90 degrees doesn't raise and lower the button in the door card?

Simon


It's the bonnet Martin. Join me in saying no! to the Americanisation of the English language. :D

Lol...You're right. My excuse is I spent 11 years surrounded by Americans, but I can do better:getmecoat:

Well I have a real challenge now. Car is properly locked. The ticking/clicking noise has stopped, so battery must be flat. I assume that was a relay which has now run down the battery. The bonnet is firmly shut and the wheels straight ahead so access to the panel under the driver's wheel arch is poor. Even if I take the wheel off to get better access to the panel, not sure if I'll get enough access to the bonnet cable. The key does nothing to raise or lower the button in the door card. I think I'll try to get a charger working to preserve the battery if I can get access. I do have a tow socket, so that might be a good place to start for a connection.

Tried connecting a battery charger to the trailer socket. I couldn’t find any voltage differential higher than 0.2v. Thought maybe that might be the last breaths of the battery. Connected a CTEK 5 to those pins. It seemed to be OK at first but then just shut itself down so I’ve given up on charging through the tow socket. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2470d7050c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...193f71d1db.jpg


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Does anyone know if any of the thirteen pins is a direct connection to battery positive?


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Bravo Google. So I have a caravan tow socket apparently. I had the earth correct but not the permanent live. Going to try again. Pin 13 (bottom right of locator lug) is earth and pin 9 is the one I need to charge through. Fingers crossed.


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Had the ZT-T not been used for a while Martin? I put a new battery on it when I bought the tourer back in 2018.

Sounds like the battery is completely dead. The ticking noise under the bonnet may be the BBUS alarm? The old battery that was on it wasn't holding a charge too well when I bought it and when the battery would run down it would set the alarm off and once that drained it would just be making a sort of loud ticking noise which could be heard from outside the garage I was storing it in at the time.

The driver's door should unlock with the key in the door even with the battery disconnected. Thats how I got into the car when I first bought it as the battery was dead, and quite a few times after when the old battery kept dieing whilst I had the car in storage.

Can't advise whether the tow electrics work though as neither myself or the previous owner had towed anything with it.

Hi Rick,
I used the car last week as my daily driver. Performed faultlessly. Lynn even commented that she liked the car which is a big win for the ZTT lol.
Parked up normally Thursday night and locked it at home with the fob just like I did at work in the morning. Only became aware of the ticking noise on Saturday and knew the battery was running down but it was wet and miserable and the forum was down so I left it until today. I was thrown when the key wouldn't open the door manually so I'm stuck at the moment. I'll have to go over the tow socket wiring and check it out another day. Just thought it might be an easier route to re-charge the battery. Now I think I'll have to jack her up, off with the undertray, and try to charge via the starter motor if I can't open the bonnet some other way. I've lubed the driver lock with the faint hope the key might work, but when I turn the key, nothing seems to engage and the door button stays down. :duh:

So according to pics on the internet, pin 9 permanent live could be one further round. Some pics show different connections, so going to try the alternate variation after the rugby!