Annoying ticking / rattling noise under dash on RS3

Hi all,

I've recently become the proud owner of a 2011 RS3 and I'm loving it!

Except for one really really annoying noise that i'm a bit at a loss to locate with my limited knowledge of Audi's..

It occurs between 800 - 1200 rpm, clears completely above that rpm, is generally louder when cold, and sometimes doesn't do it at all.

It sounds like a ticking solenoid or rotating type sound (imagine an old fashioned cable driven rev counter!), and it seems to be coming from behind the dashboard (right hand side, drivers side).

It might even be a vibration caused by the engine rpm at that low idle / fast idle sort of speed - if you hold the revs just right, you can get it to tick to your hearts content - but as I say, go slightly higher on the rpm and the noise clears completely.

I don't think its coming from the engine bay because it sounds too much like its behind the dash, although I have tried listening to the noise with the bonnet open. I cant really hear it for all the other ticking noises under there though)

Any suggestions on what to look for would be gratefully received - unknown noises are the bane of my life

Cheers all!

JamesMadog said:

My S3 does this, it gets tht annoying tht im constantly putting the Air con on, this way it idles just above 1000 rpm and the noise dissapears

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Unfortunately mine does it till about 1200rpm so my only solution is to try to never stop Would you say the noise is coming from behind the dashboard on yours, as opposed to the engine bay?