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.

 

[TreyVega]

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELlllllllllllllllllllppppppppppppppp please someone ok heres the thing 99 non turbo 5spd 2.0 420a engine did a full oil change and oil filter in june no leak i check whenever i get in the car weird like that so the last week ive been having problems charging the car having to turn it over like twice or three times to get it to start i checked the starter checked the alternator the battery all fine but the voltage was running high at 15 so yesterday i decided i was going to find the problem i started checking everything so i check the oil its bone dry so i go and get some oil put it in it starts right up but theres this loud whining sound not a knocking a whining coming from where the timing belt area i think the car still runs has its power but the noise does not stop someone please help i love this car and just scared ima have to let it go or buy a new engine maybe its the timing belt or power steering pump

 

[2GDSM-OWNER]

Hey, just recently bought a motor off of craigslist. (I know bad Idea) I finally have the motor installed and running. The car idles fine and does not make a knocking sound at idle. Around 4k RPM's is when the car starts to make a knocking like the piston is hitting something or loose. I recently had this same issue with my honda civic and the piston eventually shot threw the backside of the block. Was just curious if anybody had any ideas of what this sound could be? Is it fixable and how much it would cost to repair. Im honestly not looking to put too much more money into this car but will if necessary. Thanks!

 

[mattasi]

Dang man, it could be a spun rod bearing. If I were you I would listen to some youtube videos of a spun rod bearing and see if it is simular to that.

 

[xtotek]

Not really something that's easy to tell without being there and hearing it. But from what you say, I'd lean towards something like a rod knock as the previous poster said. Did you check to see what the oil looked like before you bought it? I'd hope you did. If you didn't, I'd be dropping the pan and looking for metal shavings and/or pieces of metal.

Good luck, dude.

 

[91blackcherrytsi]

you can sometimes even tell which cylinder its on by taking the spark plug wires off one at a time. check each one, when the knock stops, its on that cylinder, sometimes that works, ill put money on it being
#1 if not that then #3. sorry to hear it man, but im in the same boat, getting ready to tear into one myself.

 

[2GDSM-OWNER]

If it happens to be a rod knock how do i go about fixing it? Sorry if that sounds really newbie but I honestly know nothing about the inside of these motors.

 

[91blackcherrytsi]

That's going to be a rebuild sir . One could halfass it and just change bearings in a few hours but that's not the right way to go about it. If its spun a bearing then your rod could have gotten hot and expanded or warped. It needs a rebuild.

 

[xtotek]

Not to mention the cylinder wall and crank might be scratched to hell.

Rebuild!

 

[DeathBySexy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ysrrQLrPk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I've searched around but haven't really been able to compare the sound and come up with a solid answer. So I took some video and figured I would see if any of you can't point me in right direction. The motor is stock and has 175k miles on it. I'm afraid it's a rod but maybe a valve or lifter. Just need a few opinions before I start tearing down.

Also wanted to mention it never stalled out or overheated just started doing it the other day. It felt like it was only running on three cylinders and check engine light came on. But I don't have a link yet for codes. I parked it and fired it up the next day and it was running fine again and the knock went away till I shut it off and started it again. Then it was back and motor felt like it was missing again. Not sure how it can run fine smetimes and not other times any ideas?

Also I do plan to do a compression test this weekend just got to get my hand on the tool first. Just looking for opinion on the sound thx.

 

[3kgt2nv]

you have the video set to privet so no one else can watch it

 

[DeathBySexy]

My apologies. Fixed

 

[3kgt2nv]

i would stop starting the car and first set and check base timing. also change the oil and look at it in the sunlight and look for metal flakes.

doesnt sound like rod knock because it only happens on the rev. could be a rocker is loose.

i would check timing and pull the vc to take a peak.

 

[DeathBySexy]

Changed the oil didn't see any metal flake. Pulled the valve cover everything appears good. Next I'm going to pull the head to get a better look. Any advice on things to look for are still welcome.

 

[3kgt2nv]

if your going to pull head i would say do it and get it done with, could be valves tapping. which you could do a leakdown test to eliminate that possibility.

 

[arabeclipse]

First off, I did find a resolved thread that had the same situation as this from what the poster was describing, and I followed it but it didn't solve my problem.

Secondly, I realize that this is an old car (oldie but a goodie )and it's subjected to make a bunch of noises but this one is just annoying as hell. I DO have lifter tick (surprise) BUT this is a different tick in addition to the lifter tick. The best way I can describe the sound is like the injectors, but much much louder. Basically like an electrical sounding tick, not a mechanical one. I could be wrong though. I can't pinpoint exactly where it is. It's in the vicinity of the injectors and spark plug pack to the right of the throttle body. It does come and go but usually at idle I hear it.

Any ideas? This is really grinding my gears

('95 GST still like 99% stock. Just a few bolt ons.)

 

[LOLVTEC]

Throw.out bearing?

 

[And_44]

Does it's speed change with rpm or just dissappear when not at idle?

 

[clipto]

My best thoughts to help you is to take to good mechanic to check out if you don't know a lot about cars, or post a video of the sound. Cars make noise so if your decent on cars check out the motor see if anything looks unusual.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

your spark plug boots in all the way?

 

[talon2gbuyer]

Posting up a video would help.

 

[dUo-sx]

spun a bearing possibly? you should know lifter tick isnt very loud or hard sounding, usually if you spun a bearing itll begin like lifter tick but definitely have a more pronounced sound like you say, you should be able to tell difference. have you done anything recently that could compromise oil? even cleaning out cylinder chambers can compromise oil if alot of solution is used. Also if you were flooding the chamber for some reason the fuel can leak past rings into oil. If it comes and goes it may be in its beginning stages and will last quite a long time if you change your oil and get a heavier weight, although thats only helpful if you need a car but plan to buy new parts when you do rebuild. This is to say if its a bearing. Something could be loose and ticking with motor vibration? - best case scenario. gl

 

[herms99gst]

Stethoscope works great for this stuff. Go grab u one at autozone and find it.

 

[Tw92tsi]

I have a weird ticking noise only after I press on the gas while decelerating. I stuck my ear on the valve cover and it doesn't sound like it is coming from inside the engine. Do you think it is injectors. I probly should tell you the car has been sitting for the past yr but I start it every week and I put new gas in every month i have done 2 oil changes one when i parked it and one like 4 months ago .the car is sitting because I changed all the interior and am doing body work while saving my pennies to start bolting stuff on. Also the engine was recently rebuilt by a guy who specializes in mitsubishi I only put 10000 km on it befor parking it

 

[nate95tsi]

Hello everyone,
So a couple weeks back I stacked on some miles on my 1995 Talon Tsi. It ran great all the way from RI to Boston and back. However the next morning I started it up and this deep knocking was coming from the engine. The idle was very steady, exhaust note was smooth, held good oil pressure, no smoke, no leaks, nothing, just the knock. I let it idle for a good five minutes and it didn't go away. I proceeded to shut the car off for the rest of the day. The next morning I start it and it was completely gone with still no normal signs of any damaged anything. I let it warm up for a couple minutes then drove it to my buddies shop. On the way there it was running great, even a weird sound it would make prior to the knock was completely gone.
WHAT COULD IT HAVE BEEN!?! I am so lost!
Thank you!

Does anyone know what could cause this issue? It's in my buddies shop but how can they troubleshoot when its running fine now?

 

[undefined0000]

Sure it wasn't a tick, or was it definitely deep motor knock? Something like that would have me ripping everything apart looking for the issue. Deep knocks that go away suddenly would be something that scares me. Was it in the lower part of the motor, or did it sound like it could have been coming from a combustion chamber etc? I know some motors, the pistons hit the cylinder walls when its cold, causing a deep knock and it goes away at random times.