Is the ticking sound when starting the new A6 the ABS working sound?
2 Answers
When starting the new A6, there is a ticking sound, which is the working sound of the ABS. It is the sound of the automatic parking function releasing the brake. Introduction to car ABS: Car ABS is an anti-lock braking system. The working principle of the braking system is to use the mutual friction between the non-rotating elements connected to the body (or frame) and the rotating elements connected to the wheels (or drive shaft) to prevent the rotation or tendency of rotation of the wheels. The role of ABS: ABS automatically controls the braking force of the brake during car braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and keeping them in a state of rolling and sliding, ensuring that the adhesion between the wheels and the ground is at its maximum. During braking, ABS quickly determines the wheel lock-up state based on the speed signals from each wheel speed sensor, closes the normally open input solenoid valve on the wheel that begins to lock up, and keeps the braking force unchanged.
My A6 is only three months old, and it always makes a ticking sound when starting. At first, I also thought it was an ABS issue. Later, I specifically went to the dealership to ask the technician. They said new cars have many electronic systems, and each startup involves a self-check procedure. The ABS pump briefly powers on for testing during this time, similar to the 'click' sound when turning on household appliances—it’s not a fault signal. I’ve observed the pattern: the sound always occurs once during a cold start, but not when starting in traffic jams. The technician even taught me a simple way to verify it—lightly resting my foot on the brake pedal, I could feel a slight vibration. If the sound suddenly becomes continuous or includes noise, that’s when it’s time for a check-up. Of course, the tire pressure monitoring system disengaging or the electronic parking brake releasing can also make occasional sounds, but they’re different from this ticking noise.
