A ticking noise.

[CManT1914]

I've had this ticking noise for a while coming from the passenger side, near the rear of the engine. A while back, I got one of the plugs partially cross-threaded, so I thought it was a loose plug so I tightened them all down. But the noise persists. Do I have a lifter knocking or something maybe? Or maybe it's just that plug giving me problems? Any ideas?

 

[TrueBlue95GT]

Try retorqueing all of your headers bolts. Those things like to back off.

 

[CManT1914]

Try retorqueing all of your headers bolts. Those things like to back off.

Ok, I'll try that tomorrow after work. If it's not that, is there anything else to check for while I'm at it?

 

[viperos]

yeah, I'm getting ticking too, I thought it was my timing at first, but it checked out alright... so did all my exhaust bolts

 

[TrueBlue95GT]

Is it consistent with RPM? Also does it sound metallic? You could also check the bolts from the h-pipe to the collector. Look and see if there is any black carbon deposits in the mating area...that means that you have a leak. Also, does the car feel like it's missing in one of the cylinders? Could be you broke that plug and now it's arcing onto the cylinder heads.

 

[CManT1914]

Is it consistent with RPM? Also does it sound metallic? You could also check the bolts from the h-pipe to the collector. Look and see if there is any black carbon deposits in the mating area...that means that you have a leak. Also, does the car feel like it's missing in one of the cylinders? Could be you broke that plug and now it's arcing onto the cylinder heads.

It is consistent with rpms, as the engine speeds up, so does the ticking. The h-pipe to collector flange and everything is good, I just replaced my h-pipe about a month and a half ago, and it's been ticking since before that. The car feels fine, runs great. I know I'm running on all 8 cylinders, it just is making this kind of noisy ticking sound that's annoying the crap out of me.

 

[Chythar]

Sounds just like my engine noise...

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but it sounds like we've got the same issue.

For me, it sounds like a metallic noise, like two metal parts hitting each other. My exhaust manifold-to-collector is tight. When I replaced my h-pipe, I didn;t get those bolts tight enough, and had an exhaust leak. This noise is different.

It sounds like it's coming from the driver's side, near the back. I've pulled the valve covers, and there aren't any marks or scrapes on the valve covers or the roller rockers.

My mechanic believes it's something near the crank. I don't know about that, I've had the noise for some time and it has never gotten worse/louder/etc.

Sound like the same kinda noise?

 

[viperos]

well, I have the same type of noise, so I think we need one very good post here, which will magically answer our problem D:

 

[CManT1914]

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but it sounds like we've got the same issue.

For me, it sounds like a metallic noise, like two metal parts hitting each other. My exhaust manifold-to-collector is tight. When I replaced my h-pipe, I didn;t get those bolts tight enough, and had an exhaust leak. This noise is different.

It sounds like it's coming from the driver's side, near the back. I've pulled the valve covers, and there aren't any marks or scrapes on the valve covers or the roller rockers.

My mechanic believes it's something near the crank. I don't know about that, I've had the noise for some time and it has never gotten worse/louder/etc.

Sound like the same kinda noise?

Yea, sounds like similar problem. Mine has never gotten any worse or louder or whatever. And I really don't think it's effecting the performance, it's just annoying. If it's something as simple as tightening some header bolts, then I will fix it. If it's something real complicated to fix, I'm not worried about it. You said you pulled your valve covers off, there were no scrape marks, so you don't have any lifter knock? That's good to know that it's probably not that. I'm gonna pull my car into my dad's shop later to cut off my tailpipes and put on some turn-downs, I'll tighten down my header bolts and see if that does it. I'll let you know.

well, I have the same type of noise, so I think we need one very good post here, which will magically answer our problem D:

I've ran into several other people the last few days that have the same problem. I guess it's not that big of a deal, if everybody has this, and it's not hurting their performance or anything. But you're right, we need some 5.0 God to come in and tell us exactly what it is and exactly what to do to fix it in a step by step process. lol

 

[Chythar]

Yea, sounds like similar problem. Mine has never gotten any worse or louder or whatever. And I really don't think it's effecting the performance, it's just annoying. If it's something as simple as tightening some header bolts, then I will fix it. If it's something real complicated to fix, I'm not worried about it. You said you pulled your valve covers off, there were no scrape marks, so you don't have any lifter knock? That's good to know that it's probably not that. I'm gonna pull my car into my dad's shop later to cut off my tailpipes and put on some turn-downs, I'll tighten down my header bolts and see if that does it. I'll let you know.

I agree - if it's easy to fix, I'll fix it. Keep us up to date. As for the valve covers, no marks at all. I wiped off the oil to see if there was damage, and none cound be found. Just to be safe, I installed my cobra valve covers (the metal stamped ones that say "COBRA", a rare find), to make sure there was enough clearance. The noise is still unchanged.

 

[viperos]

well, your miracle answer is here

-so, I'm in the garage, I decide to check a few things... my exhaust bolts and header bolts are fine, so, I check the timing, it's perfect, right at 12*, and I'm running 89 chevron gas... so, I look at my book, been 3600miles since last oil change... not horrible, beacuse I have a really good filter, but still bad, so I change my oil, click noise is still there...

-so, I had a bottle of Slick-50 Engine Treatment lying around, that I forgot to add, so I drained a quart, and added this stuff, magically, my engine is running very smooth, much quieter in the engine bay than before, and the ticking is gone!

 

[CManT1914]

well, your miracle answer is here

-so, I'm in the garage, I decide to check a few things... my exhaust bolts and header bolts are fine, so, I check the timing, it's perfect, right at 12*, and I'm running 89 chevron gas... so, I look at my book, been 3600miles since last oil change... not horrible, beacuse I have a really good filter, but still bad, so I change my oil, click noise is still there...

-so, I had a bottle of Slick-50 Engine Treatment lying around, that I forgot to add, so I drained a quart, and added this stuff, magically, my engine is running very smooth, much quieter in the engine bay than before, and the ticking is gone!

Slick-50? Can I pick that up at Advanced Auto Parts or O'Reilly's?

 

[viperos]

let's see... I am pretty sure I got it at NAPA... and I know that the local Schucks has it... it's like $10, but massively worth it! I had no idea how good that stuff is... but it guarantees that no engine part will fail due to wear if you use this stuff every 3K miles and start before 50K not to mention, my 50yo dad told me about him using it when he was a kid! so apparently they're good, and experienced

 

[BlackVert]

sounds to me like a hydraulic lifter isn't expanding enough so there is a small gap between the rod and the rocker. it clicks when the rod hits the rocker.

my wife's minivan has a similar clicking noise which usually means there is not enough oil pressure because there is not enough oil because her engine burns oil.

 

[viperos]

well, I checked my oil, and I check it often... was perfectly w/i tollerances...

about 3/4 of the way up the XXXX area

 

[squall9393]

Burnt/blown out header gasket? Warped headers not making contact with heads? That's where my ticking is- in the exact same spot too. At the rear of the passenger side header. Gonna get some new/better gaskets.

 

[viperos]

na man, try out this stuff first! it could very easily solve your problem... that is what it's designed to do apparently, I just found out it's designed to make every moving component in the engine run smootly, and quietly... everything

 

[Chythar]

Son of a --

I just had time to check my exhaust headers and see if the bolts were tight. They were so loose, I thought I was stripping the bolt head instead of removing the bolt. MUCH less than the 22-45 ft-lbs of torque needed. I didn't have time to tighten them all last night, but I'll be doing so this weekend. If this works, you guys have saved my @$$!

I'll repost my results by Monday.

 

[CManT1914]

I just had time to check my exhaust headers and see if the bolts were tight. They were so loose, I thought I was stripping the bolt head instead of removing the bolt. MUCH less than the 22-45 ft-lbs of torque needed. I didn't have time to tighten them all last night, but I'll be doing so this weekend. If this works, you guys have saved my @$$!

I'll repost my results by Monday.

Glad it turned out good for you. I've been out of town for the last 5 days for my brother's wedding. I didn't have time to check them before, and I won't tomorrow cus I gotta pack up to leave again. I have a 4 am flight tuesday to Vegas for the SEMA show, which I'll be at for a week. Anybody else going to SEMA?

 

[davins130]

thats funny because i just discoverd that same ticking today comming from the rear part drivers side. Im pretty sure its header bolts because i just put on my headers 2 months ago and ive been getting lazy about retighting them, and i guess this is just a reminder to do so befroe i blow out my header gasket. Its such a hassle though to get in there i just dont want to anymore after doing it 10 times alredy