Engine Noise / Ticking, Knocking, Tapping MERGED

[eric489]

All threads with vague titles regarding engine bay noises are now merged HERE.

If you honestly feel we can diagnose an internal engine problem from a poor description or low-quality video / audio sample, give it a shot.


I own a 1997 gst spyder and there is a ticking noise comming fron the engine. It comes and goes and it mostly sounds bad at idle. I have 97,000 miles on it and i change the oil regularly. I changed it about 2000 miles ago I need help to fix the problem.

 

[ulitka]

Video or sound clip would be nice. I had similar rubbing noise caused by timing belt rubbing against a top timing belt cover, realingment of a timing belt top cover fixed the issue. Also, when i installed an alluminum crank shaft pulley it rubbed very bad on a lower timing belt cover, had to trim the pulley to allow more clearance.

Check your timing belt and all covers for signs of wear.

 

[DSM-Hottie]

I have rubbing sound since I did my timing too, Took the top cover off the cam gears and its still there so I am assuming that it is the lower cover that is rubbing.

 

[94'TSI'AWD]

is this completly true? Cause my t-25 sounds like a supercharger and I checked for shaft play and there is none what so ever.

My 16G that i run on my car sounds like a supercharger as well, but boosts just fine and strong, with no smoke or shaft play.

 

[Bluefire16]

Sounds like your fan blade may be rubbing....check for wires or it hitting something..... If your car is in first, the tranny is up forward more, then after it goes back a tad and by that point your engine may be hot enough to have very slightly worn down the blade.

If it is JUST at the start up for a few seconds, this could also be the "DSM TICK" if it is a few TIC TIC TICs, in a couple sets.... that occur right after start up, its actually a "normal" thing. My car does this and all my friends with DSM's do the same thing....

 

[Bubba9110]

Sorry to bring this back but I checked for shaft play and it didn't seem to have any. I did notice though that after I've gone through the gears and boosted the noise will go away for the rest of driving. Then if I leave the car off a little while it'll do it again but again it goes away after I've gone through the gears boosting.

 

[horizontalkev]

I have knocking noises between 2500-3000RPS's only (sometimes higher, sometimes lower rpm's) and on start-up. but idling and when i drive it easy i hear no knocking. 2 mechanics said it sounds like a lifter problem and not the rods but they arent positive.

what i have done so far, i put sea foam in my oil & gas along with STP oil treatment in my oil. I also removed the spark plug wires one at a time, all 4 times the engine knocked, but noticeably less in cylinder #1.

What would you say? A lifter problem or rod/rod bearings? I also had one mechanic say it could be my transmission because my transmission fluid is low (not filled yet) and it makes little noise when i shift. its manual.

 

[SteGerHPI]

There's a big difference between a knock and a tick. If it knocks I can usually pinpoint the cylinder just by putting a my ear to a prybar on a manifold. Check your oil and if you're feeling ambitious pull your oil pan. Then you can look for lots of glitter sprinkles in your oil pan and check your bearings

 

[Glacius_01]

+1 on pulling the pan and checking for metal....my car had a knock when I got it, and my mechanic said it was a lifter...3 miles down the road I dropped all 16 valves in the head

 

[horizontalkev]

ill drop the pan then.. can i drop it with it full of oil? or will it need to be drained first? And where is the fill plug on my transmission?

 

[Glacius_01]

Oil should be drained before dropping the pan...

 

[horizontalkev]

Okay got it, thanks.. Where is the drain plug on my transmission? Can i go through the boot on the tranny where the clutch goes in on the front of the tranny?

 

[rstchris]

420A guys so this engine does not make valvetrain noise until it's really f****d up. The fill bolt is 13mm on the fron of the trans and really long, drain is obviously on the bottom. If there is a rod knock you should be able to drain the oil into a clean pan and dump it out. Look at the oil left in the bottom in a kinda dark place with a flashlight and if there's pieces the size of pepper rather than just dust then no bueno.

 

[horizontalkev]

thanks, so is it the only bolt on the front of the tranny? I will be able to fill it from above where the engine is right? Im sorry, i was a mustang fan boy but my attention abruptly focused on eclipses and these cars are sooo much different.

 

[KKneipper]

ill drop the pan then.. can i drop it with it full of oil? or will it need to be drained first?

If you want to get really messy, and make it hard on yourself, then leave the pan full... I would recommend draining it first though... I hate cleaning up oil spills. It always makes me feel like BP (hahahahahahahahaha).

 

[fran_drivertsi]

Post a vid.

 

[horizontalkev]

If you want to get really messy, and make it hard on yourself, then leave the pan full... I would recommend draining it first though... I hate cleaning up oil spills. It always makes me feel like BP (hahahahahahahahaha).

!! that was funny.. Ill drain it and check the oil pan. And ill post a video of the knocking eventually

 

[BLINKY619]

If you want to get really messy, and make it hard on yourself, then leave the pan full... I would recommend draining it first though... I hate cleaning up oil spills. It always makes me feel like BP (hahahahahahahahaha).

hahaha BP should use some oil absorbent... wish it worked...!!

 

[horizontalkev]

haha gulf of oil.. oh hey meant to mention when i put on the gas i sometimes hear rattling and when i let off it dissapeares any thoughts on that?

UPDATE: I have a CEL on now ill get the code pulled later today.
ALSO i had the hood open and i noticed a faint/light ticking that turns into the distinct knocking sound if i push on the throttle. Lifter?

I had the CEL code pulled this is what i got:
Code1494- EVAP ventilation switch or mechanical fault probable cause:
1-Open or short circuit condition
2-Poor electrical connection
3-Failed vent solenoid
4-Vacuum hose plugged.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[horizontalkev]

I took apart the lower engine and my rod bearings are slightly damaged and cylinder 4 rod bearing is spun. The knocking at certain RPM's was mainly from the crank shaft hitting the oil pan. cleaned up the crank shaft with terry cloth, good condition, my rods are okay, and nothing appears to be damaged. New bearings will be in thursday. good ending ide say, lets just hope every things perfect when its put back together

 

[donniekak]

If you spun a rod bearing, just replacing the bearings will result in another failure. You need to disassemble the entire engine, clean all of the bearing material from all parts of the oiling system, including the cooler, turbo, lines, lifter, etc, everything. Then, a new crank, and rods will get you going.

 

[horizontalkev]

my bearings werent severely damaged, just enough for me to realize something isnt right, and i searched the pan for shavings, i didnt see one shaving. crank shaft looks perfect no scratches and my uncle owns a machining shop he had the rods to make sure they arent bend, they checked out perfect.

 

[Bluefire16]

Post a vid..

 

[JusMX141]

is this completly true? Cause my t-25 sounds like a supercharger and I checked for shaft play and there is none what so ever.

My T25 sounds like a freakin jet taxi-ing down a runway. Very high pitched and there is no shaft play.

My 16G that i run on my car sounds like a supercharger as well, but boosts just fine and strong, with no smoke or shaft play.

ALL of you need to check for boost leaks near the compressor outlet and / or pre-turbine exhaust leaks (manifold gasket blown out, collector gasket blown out, or broken / missing studs).

 

[LiquidX]

Ok, this is very strange, a while back I remember hearing a vibrating noise like a cell phone on vibrate in my engine bay, it happened when car was off after a drive.


...I noticed the vibrating noise from a while back and it is coming from the charcoal canister! No one ever heard of this noise before and now I have located where it was..Anyone have a clue? Much appreciated!

Did you ever figure out what the vibration was? I actually have the same thing happening and thought it was the ICS until I replaced it and the sound is still happening. I also removed all of the firewall selonoids.

 

[jm1080]

Did you ever figure out what the vibration was? I actually have the same thing happening and thought it was the ICS until I replaced it and the sound is still happening. I also removed all of the firewall selonoids.

Did it happen when the car was off as well? Mine made that vibrating noise with car off after it was driven or sometimes just out of nowhere. It is the charcoal canister, not sure why it does that, no one really answered that, but I eliminated emissions and now no more noise.