Yaris Eco Sensor Relay?

[Otterjasie]

Hi,

I recently bought a manual Yaris 1.3 T-Spirit ('07 plate) and have been driving it for about a week now. I love the car but I've noticed a very audible clicking noise whenever I press or depress the clutch. There are 2 noises:

1) On press, a click coming from the pedal and I can also feel this through the pedal

2) On depress, 2 clicks close together and coming from somewhere underneath the steering wheel (if you open the car bonnet)

It was due for a service and as this didn't sound right as well as being very annoying, especially when driving in traffic, I asked the dealer to have a look.

They basically said the following: There is nothing wrong with the clutch, my car is fitted with a eco sensor relay? (whatever that is) and that not all models have this. That it requires another part for the function to work but it has the capability to make use of the eco sensor relay. And that even if the part was installed, the clicking sound might not go away. He also mentioned something like "it's similar to the Prius where when you press the clutch, there is a switch that turns off the engine? And that it is not possible to remove this eco sensor relay thing?

I have no idea what he meant and I don't know anything about cars. What is confusing to me is that why would you enable a car to have a certain functionality (which makes annoying noises), not install the functionality and even if it was installed, it would still make a noise?

Can anybody please help me understand this? I might be more at ease when I know there is really nothing wrong and that this is normal. I have never heard these noises on any car before.

I've tried to record the sounds on my phone - I've attached a file, you'll need to turn up the volume though. The first sound is when the clutch is pressed, and the sound(s) that follow is on depress. I've done it a few times...

VN00007-20100310-1112.wav

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Otterjasie]

Took the car to another dealer for a second opinion and according to them it's not because of the eco sensor relay. The first click is the pedal hitting the switch (keyless entry) and the other clicking sounds on depress is just a mechanical sound and the way the hydraulic clutch works. He went to get a 2010 Yaris and that makes the same clicking sounds on depress.

So I guess I'm happier now that I know there is nothing wrong although it's still annoying.

[Chris81]

What's keyless entry got to do with anything? I had a Yaris courtesy car once - the 1.3 mark 2, and the clutch pedal did the same thing you mentioned. It was very annoying and I was pleased to give the car back. I just thought something had broken on the pedal assembly due to the abuse courtesy cars get. It's certainly not normal for a hydraulic clutch to do it!

[moonstone mart]

The clutch pedal needs a switch on it so you can start it (clutch needs to be pressed before ignition will fire).

Clicking noise from these switches is very normal.

If the Yaris is an ECO (stop/start) model then it also needs a switch at the top of the clutch pedal stroke to restart the engine as you put it into gear after engine has stopped (ECO).

Mart.