Whirring noise from under dashboard

[amwebby]

Today I noticed, for the first time, a whirring noise from under the dash on the drivers side. Anyone have any idea what it is? Should I be worried?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

When does it happen?

After doors unlocked? Engine running? After turning off?

 

[wardpaa]

There is a very small fan mounted in the Heater control panel used to monitor cabin temperature. Are you its not coming from there ?

 

[amwebby]

It is happening with the ignition switch in the II position or with the engine running. I can hear it very clearly if I stick my head in the driver's footwell but it could be coming from the centre. I turned the air conditioning off and it was still there.

 

[ShinyF1]

My W210 does that - thought I saw mentioned somewhere there is a rotor/fan in the comand unit?

 

[Dieselman]

Today I noticed, for the first time, a whirring noise from under the dash on the drivers side. Should I be worried?

Yes, because it's the tracker your Wife had fitted yesterday..

 

[BTB 500]

Cooling fan for something, I would guess.

Hardly the same vehicle but this is noticeable on our Vito - the fan for the electronics (somewhere behind the dash) runs for some time after switching off the ignition.

 

[amwebby]

I'm sure it is a cooling fan for something, possibly with worn bearings? It only comes on when the ignition is on and not straight away. Yesterday I drove into London, after 45 miles it suddenly came on. I then parked and had a series of meetings, lasting about 4 hours in total. When I came back to the car the noise started immediately upon starting th car.

 

[amwebby]

Update: 04 October 2009

The whirring noise has stopped and my easy exit feature, which had not been working for over a year, has suddenly kicked into play. It would seem the two are related. I'll keep an eye on it and report back.