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.

 

[MikeSD]

I searched and did not find one quite like this. Does not sound like typical lifter or injector noise to me. It seems to be coming from near the turbo/exhaust manifold area...but I am worried it is rocker knock or a bearing.
It just started last night.
I had been trying to change the alternator all day yesterday (bad squeal) but the damn pivot bolt just would not come out. Totally frozen and no amount of PB or pounding would unstick it.
So I just put things back the way they were and reset the belt tension. Good news is no more squeal, bad news is I suddenly have a new sound in a new location. Not sure if it is at all related to what I was doing or just coincidence.

please excuse the dirty engine, it is on the list.

[url=http://youtu.be/V42wD8K-dyQ]95EclipseGSXsound.wmv - YouTube[/URL]

cant figure out how to embed on the forums, sorry.

 

[DeadlyScone]

Sounds like an exhaust leak. If not i don't want to be the bad guy that says it.

 

[GsxAZman]

that didnt sound very good at the end. I thought it sounded like an exhaust leak first but could it be bad shaft play of turbo and hopefully not spun bearing? Had spun rod bearing before and sounded way worse than that.

 

[avefenix]

wow, sounds like exhaust leak first but that ticking worries me a bit, of course if the leak is big enough it amplifies the sound....keep a close eye on it, if that sound gets progressively worse then youll definitely want to check the internals, thats really the best advice i can give without as a previous member says i dont want to be the bad guy

 

[gofer]

Mike, remember when Kris and I first came over and I pulled the manifold heatshield because I heard that exhaust leak? That's the same sound and everything else sounds like a typical 4g63 firing up and idling. If you want to find out for sure where its coming from run some Seafoam through it, you'll find that exhaust leak.

This car has a similar sound to it as it idles as they're doing a Seafoam test and you can see all of the exhaust leaks just in the engine bay. I don't recommend actually USING this video as a tool to use and follow to Seafoam your car as they sound like idiots, however, that's how you use it to find exhaust leaks.

Seafoam the Eagle Talon - YouTube

Nothing you can't take care of when you upgrade to that 14b.

 

[GsxAZman]

I think a $5 stethascope might do a good of job as these guys on the video. I have one and it does wonders. Harbor Freight is your friend. But yeah that car does sound worse than your so you have hope.

 

[MikeSD]

thanks again Corey, I remember you taking the heatshield off but I don't remember there being an exhaust leak but I was a little overwhelmed at the time that the car actually started at all.

It just seemed strange that I didn't hear that noise on Friday and then after my failed attempt and being a mechanic that showed up. Seemed like a new sound to me, and the searching I did just scared me more .

Could fixing that massive boost leak have put more pressure on other areas of the exhaust and exacerbated the issue?

oh and do I need to do anything now or just wait for Kris to come back.

(sorry if I am testing your patients, see what you get for being a nice guy )

btw big job interview tomorrow, and if it works out this "project" will change in a hurry.

 

[gofer]

Since it's pre-turbo/pre-o2 then it will effect your t25 spool time and your gas mileage a bit. Does the sound go away after it fully warms up?

 

[MikeSD]

Since it's pre-turbo/pre-o2 then it will effect your t25 spool time and your gas mileage a bit. Does the sound go away after it fully warms up?

Does not seem to be going away after warmed up. The thing that makes me nervous is it sounds like metal on metal. I sure hope it is an exhaust leak though.

 

[banishedmunk]

Mike it definately sounds like an exhaust leak. You can pinpoint the noise by using a piece of water hose like a stethoscope. hold one end to your ear and the the other to the area of the sound and you will find it. pull off the heat sheild before you do it so you arent getting reverb from it

 

[MikeSD]

Thanks Kris, I will do that. I drove the car a lot today and the sound did go away. So I assume a knock would not go away but a leak could due to expansion.

 

[MikeSD]

ok got another weird one. This is more of a snapping crackling noise. I could not figure out if it was electrical or mechanical. It was coming from the drivers side intake area.
It took it to Kris and by the time I got there it was gone.
Anyone have a clue?

eclipseWTFsound.MOV - YouTube

 

[Tman94]

So i've been noticing a little knocking in my engine, it's right when i start up the car, but if i rev it a couple of times it goes away. Any suggestions?
97 GST All stock minus Exhaust, DP, Intake and BOV.

 

[GsxAZman]

Im thinking lifters if its more of a rattle/tick or exhaust leak that goes away when warmed up.

 

[Tman94]

are lifters an easy fix? and also the ticking isnt really loud and has been going on for a while but has not gotten any worse at all.

 

[talon2gbuyer]

Hey all, can anyone identify this sound? it sounds like valve slap, but i'd like to get a few more opinions. Dont mind the first few sounds, was fumbling trying to get the camera into the engine bay, while trying to hit the gas .

VIDEO0013 - YouTube

 

[2wdlaser]

I had a similar problem and mine was a loose pully. It was rattling

 

[DSM nOOb]

sounds like rod knock. but the video isnt exactly great quality.

 

[mattasi]

Sounds like a rod bearing to me. It could also be a loose harmonic balancer.

 

[talon2gbuyer]

Hm.. the weird thing about it is once the car is warmed up, it doesnt do it anymore, or if it still is, i cant hear it. Weird problem.. would a heavier weight oil help this out a little?

 

[LOLVTEC]

Check all your bolts. Remove the timing covers and make sure nothing is loose. If it was rod knock the noise would be consistent. But again the video is not the best quality. Check ## pulleys because it sounds like something is loose and hitting metal to metal. if its rod knock get a palm pilot and log knock or if you have link check to see if your knocking.

 

[NHerron]

Sounds like rodknocky. Buy a cheap mechanics stethascope and place the tip on the block. Or use a really long screwdriver and prop it against your ear. Then hit the throttle to make the knock sound and listen.

 

[talon2gbuyer]

Yea its weird, the sound goes away once the car is warmed up, and when started while warm it does it for like 1 or 2 minutes then goes away. Clueless..

 

[Kingarex]

So I bought this GSX a couple months ago and it's been wonderful. It doesn't leak a drop of oil and doesn't seem to burn any either. I have been diligent with checking oil levels, and they're always the same. So I have been super busy the last two weeks with car club meets, and job interviews... Long story short, I neglected to check my oil levels. I was out running a Datalog, then I came back and as it was idling i noticed a knocking and my heart sank... Rod knock for sure. Shut it off, let it sit, pulled the stick 20 mins later and it was a drop on the end. Son of a bi***, I ran it out of oil! I added a quart of Lucas, and here we are.

So what confusing, is that it doesn't knock at idle. It doesn't start until around 1800 RPM, and knocks loudly until 2500rpm then it quiets down until like 5k where it seems to disappear. I pulled the valve cover, did a visual inspection and it looked fine. I re-torqued my new ARP head studs, and checked the cam caps. All was well. I have it located to the far left (drivers) side but even with a stethoscope, I can't descend whether it's head or block noise. I've ruled out drivetrain. Also, it seems to do it less while under boost, or in 2nd gear (but that could just be me)

I'll check my oil, but I can't drain it, because I'm too broke to refill it. Also I'll compression check it tomorrow (though it feels normal).

Lastly I pulled all my plugs and pressed down on my pistons with a screwdriver and the feel solid, both up and down, and zero side to side.

 

[bryanwheat]

You are going to have to drain the oil and pull the pan to diagnose it. The more you drive it the more damage it will have.