The dreaded tick

[RsStanG1987]

So i was tightening my headers today. I started the car back up and noticed there was a tick coming from the passenger side valve cover. Im thinking its a lifter or something.. Any Ideas on how to fix this?

 

[legalize420]

So i was tightening my headers today. I started the car back up and noticed there was a tick coming from the passenger side valve cover. Im thinking its a lifter or something.. Any Ideas on how to fix this?

i would think that if anything in the valvetrain is making the noise, it would be the rockers. what have you done to the car lately? did this just start happening?

 

[89/GT/Vert]

Maybe an exhaust leak, somehow happened when you were tightening your headers?

 

[Look Its Aaron]

Im thinking exhaust leak since you were messing with your headers

 

[89white50]

yea i had the same problem after i put my new headers on, then retightened my headers and it noticeably went away. Exhaust leaks really can sound like ticking rockers or lifters.

 

[RsStanG1987]

Nope not headers. They are all tight. The leak was on the drivers side not the passenger. It just started redently.

 

[legalize420]

you have stock heads and rockers right? have you messed with the valvtrain at all? if not, i doubt anything came loose. is this the same tick you heard when you had a leak? i had a loose rocker and leaking header gasket in the past and they sound nothing alike. the header leak was a tick, the loose rocker was a more noticable banging noise.

 

[RsStanG1987]

Its hard to explain but its not the same as the leak..

 

[Mavrick]

Exhaust leak sounds like a tick whereas valvetrain rattle sounds more like a clack. A bad lifter would also be a kind of ticking..

 

[RsStanG1987]

Like i said the exausht is thight i think its a lifter.

 

[ej95cobra]

check to make sure all your plug wires are on firmly. They'll make a similar noise if not properly seated.

 

[dkins419]

Not to steal this thread or anything, but i think my rockers are ticking. Anything wrong with the rockers ticking? It just all of a sudden starting happening about a month ago. This was one day when i started it up after normal driving.

 

[CoupedUp]

It's that f'in time bomb you have for an engine

 

[Shakerhood]

Mine ticks a little with 5W-30 in it, but sounds fine with 10W-30. Not sure what oil you are running.

 

[WhiteHeat306]

Maybe you busted a valve spring?

 

[pb_paulie_b]

i developed a 'tick' in my 90' gt. it turned out that i stretched a rod. i didn't find out till the valve got stuck through the piston when it let go. i'm not sayin you have the same problem jes that it's worth lookin into...PB

 

[DMAN302]

Pull the valve cover and check it out. Fact is higher milage vehicles can make some annoying sounds, find out if its a rocker/lifer, and if you need to worry about it by taking a look.

 

[ninety15.0]

if you pull the valve cover off are you going to need to replace the gasket and $hit?

 

[pb_paulie_b]

naw. it would be a good idea if it's leaking. i've reused them lots of times. some time ago i invested in steel reinforced ones. they are money!...PB

 

[ninety15.0]

yea the reason i asked...i just got back inside from ripping the pass side VC off my car to check the rockers b/c of a ticking issue. I also have the reinforced gaskets...they went back on fine...thnx