It’s very possible that the continuous clicking noise you can hear is the central locking trying to lock the vehicle but, for some reason, not achieving the desired result. That could be because there’s a misalignment between the bits that actually physically do the locking. If these aren’t aligned correctly, they can’t physically interlock and lock the vehicle. And when that happens, they keep trying which causes the continuous noise you’re hearing.

But the cause could also be a problem with the car’s body computer. This computer is responsible for all sorts of tasks including the stereo, air-conditioning, wipers, lights and, of course, the central locking. If the computer loses the plot it can easily convince itself that the car is unlocked and needs to be locked. Over and over again.

However, the body computer also takes its cues from a variety of sensors around the car, including little switches in the central locking to tell it that the car is locked or unlocked. If one of these fails you could get similar symptoms.

But before any of that – and it sounds pretty basic – walk around the car and make sure all the doors, windows and engine cover are closed properly, as a slightly open window or ajar door will often confuse a central locking system.