02 Mountaineer with noise coming from back left side
 

My wife has an 02 Mountaineer; and last night it just started to make a loud clicking noise in the inside of the car. It sounded like it was coming from the area over the back left wheel; but somehow inside the car????

check for things wrapped around the axle/tire that could be whacking the truck from underneath. If there's nothing flapping, then we'll need some more info, like how fast the clicking noise is, does it increase with speed, is it louder outside of the vehicle, does it make the noise even when the truck isn't moving, and do you have the AWD (all wheel drive) version or the rear wheel drive version?

There is nothing around the axle; as a matter of fact it still makes the noise when it is in park. The noise is louder inside the car than outside; and I do not have the AWD. It sounds like the noise is coming from under the third row seat or from the compartment to the left of the third row seat just over the back left tire. It just sound like someone is under the third row seat hitting the frame with a stick or something...Maybe I need to make sure no one is trapped under the seat..hahaha!

yeah, I'm stumped.

The only thing I can think of would be a stuck button on the auto rear seat folding motor (if equipped) and it's popping due to the gear being stripped out now for some reason. I can't think of anything else that would make such a noise in the rear of one of those trucks.

A few more questions... does it only make the sound when the engine is running or will it also do it with the key in accessory and/or on positions? If it does it without the engine running, then it's not related to the drive-train at all and is probably electrical in nature (stuck relay/switch/etc). Also, is the washer tank for the rear window wiper on that side? it might also be trouble with the washer fluid pump (though I can't imagine it would make that kind of noise - I am kinda reaching here).

It was the flap on the rear A/C unit that controls the heat and cool....for some reason my kids had it right in the middle and the flap got stuck and was just clicking...

ah. weird.