I've got a 2001 Tahoe 4wd, and I noticed a strange ticking (almost like exhaust headers cooling rapidly), whenever a door is opened on the car. The clicking continues for about 5 min after the doors are closed, and then stops. I just bought the car, and at first thought I might have had air-ride and not known about it, but I looked, and there isn't. The other day I was removing the A/C compressor to replace it, and my wife happened to open a door while I was under there. I managed to pinpoint the noise, and it's coming from the solenoid on the front differential... I guess it's somepart of thetraction control system. I'm thinking this can't be normal, I don't know why opening a door would make anything happen with the drivetrain... At least not a differential. Any ideas what's going on? I don't have any error codes, and the controls work fine for switching between 2wd/4wd/auto.

 

Do you leave the Tahoe in the Auto 4X4 mode normally?

 

No, I believe it's in normal 2wd mode these days. I can only see Auto being usefull during the snowy season, or when pulling a boat up a wet ramp or something... In either of those cases, I'd prolly just throw it in 4wd anyway. Well maybe if I were driving long-distance during the winter, and wanted to save on gas or something... It's kinda one of those features where you buy it, and you go "Cool!" and then you realize that there's probably no practical real-world use for it... So you don't use it, except maybe to impress your friends or something.

Anyway, I digress. I'll double check and make sure it's not in auto 4wd. Is that clicking normal if it is?

 

The clicking is not normal and could be a sign that the front 4WD actuator motor is on its way out but I wouldn't run out and replace the unit until it actually does go Tango Uniform, it may last years.

However I have not seen one make the noise unless the 4X4 system was engaged prior to shut down.