Faint click/tick sounds near the trackpad area

I've seen several posts here and elsewhere suggesting it may be related to mechanical hard-drive but don't waste your time I have this with SSD...

I get this on my month old 15" mbp i5.

Pretty annoying, it's just like when you tap the guitar string between the nut and tuning pegs, but more metallic.

Just have to live with it though might try the take the cover off and replace it.

it has nothing to do with the hard drive... :-/ ....it's something else... but what??

This following link explains what is making the noise, and how you can stop it. It was posted earlier in the thread, but is possibly hard to find.

http://tenonedesign.com/blog/fix-your-macbook-pro-like-a-champ/

okay, lets try this, thanks for the link... but is there any reaction from apple? an official statement? or is apple going to be a company as microsoft... no customer satisfaction... etc.... why APPLE can not repair this bug? why i have to do by my own????

Worked for me just undid the screws on the bottom, flexed the base a bit and screwed it back on, from doing it almost all the time, hasn't done it once 3 or 4 hours later. Thanks for the easy quick fix.

Update: the sound came back, so while changing the HDD I followed these instructions:

http://tenonedesign.com/blog/fix-your-macbook-pro-like-a-champ/

Very simple, problem solved, now my nuisance laptop is perfect, solved the spinning beach balls and plinky sound in one swoop. Sweet. Only nervous moment for me was after unscrewing the back plate, it didn't come off easily, i didn't want to pull too hard in case it was fixed in some way I wasn't aware of. Not the case, it was just clipped in, so pull the back off, it's fine 🙂

I removed the noise without removing the bracket (as suggested in the website below by Ten One design) by installing a piece of "packing tape" opposite to the connectors that rub on bottom surface of the laptop.

to see where the offending connector is (located centrally on the laptop) visit:

http://tenonedesign.com/blog/fix-your-macbook-pro-like-a-champ/

There are at least a dozen other "shielding" connectors to the back plate (bottom surface) but they do not seem to make any noise. I noted that this particular connector's configuration was made of two separate metal prongs that move "left to right" while the others appear to be fixed. Perhaps that is the cause of the noise. Other connectors also show some scoring on the base plate as does the centerpiece one.

Is this happening with the 13" mbp core 2 duo's as well?

Is this happening to the 13" mbp core 2 duo's as well or is it only the i5 and i7 models?

I just fixed this problem with a few dabs of thermal grease. Whole process documented here: http://frontiernerds.com/macbook-pro-tick-fix

Steps to Remove the creaking noise:

1) Remove the lid (7 small screws + 3 big screws)

2) Flip the lid and look for two contact points located underneath the RAM

3) Cover the contact points with electrical tape and Voilla! no more creaking or plinking.

4) You will not void the warranty and it will not damage the laptop.

*Extra* I used a pair of latex free gloves and a Mastercraft precision screwdriver set.

Enjoy

M.G.

DPJ wrote:
I would like to know if anyone has solved this problem through Apple?

I tried it at a registered Apple service provider. First they've replaced the HD (I did point them on this and other treads). The clicking was back within the same day. I guess it was gone temporarily through tightening the screws by putting it back together.
I went back with even more information and asked them to to this fix. To my surprise two weeks later I've got the Mac Book back with a replaced motherboard. Clicking came back within some days. What a wast of energy and recourses!
My advice: DIY as told in the tutorials.

Did the tape resolve your problem? I wonder if electrically conductive tape would achieve the same goal but maintain the electrical contact between the bottom plate and the bracket. I think this tape sounds like a reasonable and inexpensive solution.

https://webvia.techni-tool.com/VIA/viaImagePageIndex.jsp?row=0&pgName=viaListPro ducts.jsp&searchText=758ST605&modifier=SEARCH&reqTitle=TITLE_VIASEARCHRESULT&new Window=Y

If the electrical tape worked for you, I might try your idea but with this tape.

Same issue. Except any HDD theories are out the door because I got the SSD option and I am getting the noise as well. Even when it's shutdown and I apply gentle pressure to the underside I can recreate the noise. So at least I know it's not a powered moving part. But nonetheless annoying as I'm a huge audiophile with really sensitive ears to such a high frequency sound:(