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Ticking at Startup.

ShadowSwept

ShadowSwept

New member
Well I got my car fixed, but after an unfortunate day driving all over Kentucky and Tennessee I found the ticking had returned. It's not the same sound though, as it's more similar to the pat of a lawnmower and it goes away after a few minutes of running. Anyone know what this could be?
 


A little history; I bought my car from a dealer who told me he had replaced the flywheel. After about a year a ticking developed under the hood which progressed into a loud metallic grinding sound during acceleration and finally to a constant loud tapping.

I took it in for repair and they told me three bolts had snapped off the transmission and another had never been put in. The flexplate was cracked and only attached by one bolt, and the exhaust was assembled incorrectly. Basically, the "dealer" wasn't qualified to repair a jigsaw puzzle.

Once repaired, the engine ran so quiet I had to step out of the car to hear it running, but after driving out a full tank of gas in a day a 'patting' sound developed similar to a pushmower. The sound goes away after several minutes of driving, but returns briefly if I turn off the car and start it back up. I can hear a bit of lifter ticking if I pop the hood, but this sound is different and a little louder. I haven't been able to trace the origin.
 
Check for exhaust leaks. Could be leaking at the rear manifold to downpipe joint. Maybe the bolts worked loose a bit after being reassembled in the proper manner.
 
I was hoping exhaust leak. The crossover to rear manifold joint flange was damaged at purchase and the rear manifold to downpipe bolts were stuck. During the repair I had them install my ZZP high-flow cat/downpipe and in driving I heard it scrape on at least three occasions when pulling into steep driveways or parking lots. I looked but I didn't see any obvious damage, guess I'll try to track down the noise?
 
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Try parking next to a wall (on the driver's side), and revving with only your driver's window open. If it's an exhaust leak you'll hear the ticking but it will be much louder. My driveway has a house right next to it, and my car reminds me when I pull out every day of my exhaust leak. The noise must reflect off the wall, because it's VERY noticeable when next to something, but otherwise I can barely hear it.

That will help you determine if it really is a leak. If so, you can try sea foaming your car through a vacuum line. When you start it up it smokes a ton, and makes finding leaks very easy.
 
Thanks, I planned on Seafoam at the next oil change anyway so I'll do that. Is it normal for it to go away after the car heats up though? I don't recall any change with the original exhaust leak :P
 
It can. I have one at my rear mani to DP connection that I hear tick in the am. Once I get to full temp it's gone.
 
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