Odd clicking, sometimes

[94_302]

Well I started to notice this problem when the motor was cold and only on occasion. Once it warmed up it would go away. The sound is not present at idle or while reving in neutral or Park. It is only present when actually driving. However I tried one time, while it was still cold and making the sound. To go down a hill shift into neutral and shut the car off. The sound was not present. When I started it back up again and started to drive, it was there. As you accelerate the clicking gets faster. I made a video in a small parking area so I'm going slow and it is providing an echo to hear it a little better. I at first thought it was a rock that had gotten t***** in the fuel vapor separator. I removed the rock and the sound was gone until it came back today. With no rock down there. I know its not the head tick, I have heard those on Mach's and Cobra's and that is present at idle. I dont think its anything major like the valvetrain because the car still runs strong, no leaky fluids or anything, and the sound is not consistent with cold starts its random. I was thinking it might be a cat, or maybe an exhaust leak.
Below is the sound clip:
Clicking (http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jeffreyk/clicking.wmv)

[ckadiddle]

This is probably an idiot idea (but consider the source ;)), but pop your center caps off to see if there is anything trapped underneath? Or maybe one of them not seated quite right? I had a similar intermittent clicking years ago on a chevy stn wagon that drove me crazy. Finally took it to my mechanic and he listened once and showed me the tiny rock trapped behind the wheel cover. Sometimes it stayed wedged in tight, sometimes it didn't.

[TripleTransAm]

Sounds like it only makes the sound while in gear. How about a bad U-joint, that makes the sound only under load? I've seen it happen before.

[Blackened300a]

Sounds like it only makes the sound while in gear. How about a bad U-joint, that makes the sound only under load? I've seen it happen before.

Good point, does it Clunk or bang when you put it from park to Drive? Also, did you check under the car to see if anything is rubbing on the wheels or driveshaft??

[TripleTransAm]

We have to remember that he says the sound doesn't happen with the engine off and the car moving, so that would tend to eliminate stuff like tires and wheels (unless there is something there too that is shifting under load... rear axle bearings? broken or damaged tooth or teeth in the diff?).

The case I saw (1981 Malibu 267 2Bbl), the car would only tick under any sort of application of power, but would remain silent when moving the wheels by hand. However, when we thought to run the car in gear with the wheels off the ground and applied the brakes while gently accelerating, there was the tick again. The roughest part of the diagnosis was the fact that the sound would reverb all over the place under the car, and make it damned near impossible to determine where it was coming from.

Actually, it would really help if the car was to be driven slowly while someone walked alongside the car and tried to determine more or less where it came from (front of car, back of car, more on right side, etc.).

[MERCMAN]

Just my .02 from a thousand miles away :)
It sounds like a lifter. Now, not being any kind of mechanic thats probably not what it is, but in a 2 valve engine a lifter will make that noise if it is not getting enough oil until the oil thins out as it warms up.

[TripleTransAm]

But what about the sound not being present at idle or when revving in Park or Neutral? If it was a lifter, wouldn't it be present anytime the engine was running?

[94_302]

I have looked under the car to see if anything is in the way of the wheels and driveshaft and nothing jumped out at me. I do have a Pro-Gard back there but I know thats not making this sound. My biggest problem in trying to locate it, is the sound is sporadic. I heard it today but there is a very good chance I may not hear it tom. or even in a few days regardless of how cold the motor is.

[SergntMac]

No lifters on a DOHC, Dan, but they have cousins on board called valve lash adjusters. Hydraulic "lifter-like" devices that take up slack in the valve train by pumping up internally with oil. Because they are just cousins, you could be spot on naming a leaky, or, lazy VLA.

Those of us who have real oil pressure gauges know that at no-load idle and coasting, oil pressure drops to 5-10 PSI. Using the correct "recommended" 5W20 synethic blend oil, a leaky, or, weak VLA would be heard. Moreover, like /Steve mentions, that noise could be one of those sounds that telegraph throughout the engine bay, and come to play hide and seek with the human ear. Whether cold, or, no-load, when a VLA doesn't hold it's own, it "clacks" against other components until the oil pressure is improved, or, restored. It would make the average owner wonder if he was low on oil.

I have found the Marauder's InTech 4V DOHC to be very sensitive to oil fill, some valve train noise begins to surface with as little as being 1 pint shy. In order to elminate a weak VLA, I suggest you top off your engine oil fill so it's at the top of the XXXX line (or, top hole in the dipstick) when "parked all night" cold, and check it likewise cold daily, while noting any pattern to when you hear this noise. If it doesn't go away, bump your oil weight one step at the next change, to 5W30.

If the noise does go away, you found a weak VLA. If not, you have ruled that out, and most likely all other valve train issues as well. PITA yes, but you should have results in about a week, and it's best to rule this out before looking elsewhere. Just my .02C...

[Go Mifuni]

No lifters on a DOHC, Dan, but they have cousins on board called valve lash adjusters. Hydraulic "lifter-like" devices that take up slack in the valve train by pumping up internally with oil. Because they are just cousins, you could be spot on naming a leaky, or, lazy VLA.


Could this be causing the strange sound I hear at a cold start? It sounds like a noisy lifter and lasts for about half a second. Some said it was attributed to using a Fram oil filter, others, a Hyundai stuck in my drive train. I just want to know if there is something wrong that I need to get checked out. The sound is consistant with cold starts only and hasn't changed since I noticed it.

[94_302]

I have found the Marauder's InTech 4V DOHC to be very sensitive to oil fill, some valve train noise begins to surface with as little as being 1 pint shy. In order to elminate a weak VLA, I suggest you top off your engine oil fill so it's at the top of the XXXX line (or, top hole in the dipstick) when "parked all night" cold, and check it likewise cold daily, while noting any pattern to when you hear this noise.
Well last night I drove to the winn dixie since they have a flat surface waited 10 min like the manual said. I decided to check the manual just so I can be positive I'm doing all this right. It was completely full, it will need a change soon, but full. I checked it before going out today and again before leaving the parking garage on campus. Everytime it was completely full. I did not hear the sound today so I can't check what its at when it makes the sound. I might try to pick up an oil gauge and swap out the stock dummy just to keep an eye on things.

[94_302]

Well it came back again today. This time as I was leaving a parking garage I quickly pulled into another spot and check the oil right away it was in the middle of the XXXX area. The temp gague was Right at about C, it was something like 56 outside. So I waited till the temp was right at regular operating temp a little bit passed the middle of the temp gauge. I then drove it and heard it. Eveytime before, the temp increased by me driving it. This time I waited for it to increase on its own and it still made the sound. If it is a bad or weak VLA, what kind of effect will this have on the car? I guess I can't say it feels just as strong now as when I first got it because I have had it for about 3 months. It may have always been there but I never heard it till it got cooler out. :(

[94_302]

Well its fixed. It was not the VLA's it was the axle TSB(03-05-05) The dealer performed the TSB and so far so good. I just got it back a few hours ago and so far so good. :banana: