Faint click/tick sounds near the trackpad area

Hi,
Does it happen by itself or when you apply pressure on that area?

I have the same issue. Sound originates on the right lower side of my pro new i5 15. It's a soft clicking that comes and goes. I believe this is normal sound for a hard drive to make, no? After all hard drives make noise and if you wanted a silent notebook you'd have to get a SSD. Does anyone know if this sound were experiencing normal or not?

I've heard it a few times as well.

It is definitely the HDD, nothing to worry about though.

I have the i7 model and I hear a very soft click/ticking sound whenever you slightly move the machine. It's sorta hard to describe the sound. I can best describe it as the sound the second-hand would make in a pocket watch as it moves.

I believe the sound is coming from the SMS (Sudden Motion Sensor). Which activates when the laptop is moved in a way that may damage the HDD. It usually sounds like a slight glass knock/tap.

This is completely normal, unless of course the sound appears when there is no movement at all.

I solved the problem.

First, look at the lower left hand corner (hard disk). To the right of it, there is a warning label that saids, "Do Not Remove Battery" with the triangle symbol right above it. On top of that, 2 screws are holding a little bracket thing. That bracket is loose. The 2 screws holding it is meant to keep it in place but also meant to be loose on purpose for some reason.

There are actually 2 of those brackets by the way. I believe if you just open up the bottom lid then just apply it back on by hand, it would keep any moving parts from rubbing. When I first opened it, I noticed there was a mark on the inside of the bottom lid made by the one of the fan. Which allows to me to believe that Apple assembled that MBPs too tight. Therefore, causing some parts to rub. I can't be 100% sure what is making the clicking sounds, those little brackets things does make sense but I"m still not too sure. However, I do know that as soon as I removed the lid, I notice the sound is gone when I apply pressure or move the machine. I would say this isn't too much of a concern as far as for the health of the machine but it is a bit annoying.

Thank you for this solution...it eliminated the metallic plink sound I was "suffering" through. I removed the bottom cover and noticed that the spring pegs may be making metal-to-metal contact. like mobproctor, I noticed some wearing out as well of the inside of the mbp bottom cover. Once I replaced the bottom cover, the issue was resolved. I believe it's because there was no way I could tighten that cover with the same ferocity of Apple. So at least when it comes that metallic plink sound -- the solution may just be alleviating some of the over-tightening.

thanks again everyone! you saved me a trip to the genius bar!

So to fix it simply remove the bottom panel and replace it? This doesn't void the warranty does it?