Ticking noise

FLG · April 29, 2008, 11:59:09 AM

Hey guys/gals,

Not really a problem, but its getting annoying. I have a noise which sounds much like lifter noise, but the thing is if the car is in neutral its louder; but if i put it in park its low or almost non-existent. Since there is no RPM difference from park to neutral im thinking its the linkage making the noise. But i just wanted some other opinions as to what it could be?

Thanks,

Frank

1BAD68 · April 29, 2008, 12:05:27 PM

I'm thinking it could be the flex plate bolts.
They kept loosening on me last summer and made a ticking noise until I used locktite on them.

FLG · April 29, 2008, 05:08:19 PM

Checked the plate, all the bolts seem fine. Could not find any cracks either. Any other ideas?

hutch · April 29, 2008, 05:13:39 PM

valve sticking?

FLG · April 29, 2008, 05:24:44 PM

I dont think it has anything to do with the engine. It becomes almost non existent in park and quite loud in neutral. Also it does seem to increase with RPM. Besides that noise the car runs great.

Charger-Bodie · April 29, 2008, 05:25:26 PM

sometimes an exhuast leak can sound like a tick.

Does it have manifolds or headers?

does it do it cold or get worse as it warms up?

FLG · April 29, 2008, 05:45:38 PM

Has stock manifolds, also seems to be more obvious after the car is warmed up. While i was underneath it i saw that the driver side exhaust pipe was a little loose on the manifold so i tightened it up, i have the pulleys off and am waiting for 440 source to get me my crank pulley...so cant say if that fixed it.

Charger-Bodie · April 29, 2008, 07:04:35 PM

I had a tick once that I swore was a lifter.....turned out the exhaust manifold had a fine crack in it and it would open up more as it warmed up.

Brock Samson · April 29, 2008, 07:10:32 PM

because of the different sound, depending upon the trans selection,.. i would guess the flex plate or something trans or torque converter related,.. i had that problem last may... and i thought the trans was toast when a simple flex plate tightening solved the problem.
I'd look at that again... my

FLG · April 29, 2008, 08:44:04 PM

Alright Brock, ill take a look again tomorrow morning. I didnt notice any bolts loose, but ill have someone crank it while im underneath to make sure i didnt miss anything. A

The Kid · April 30, 2008, 05:17:42 PM

Quote from: 1hot68 on April 29, 2008, 05:25:26 PM
sometimes an exhuast leak can sound like a tick.

Does it have manifolds or headers?

does it do it cold or get worse as it warms up?

Quote from: 1hot68 on April 29, 2008, 07:04:35 PM
I had a tick once that I swore was a lifter.....turned out the exhaust manifold had a fine crack in it and it would open up more as it warmed up.

I've had the exact same problem. I thought my brand new motor was already going south. It was leaking at the manifolds. It's not too hard to find an exhaust leak, just don't get burned!

firefighter3931 · April 30, 2008, 06:15:28 PM

Sounds like an exhaust leak to me.

Ron

squeakfinder · May 03, 2008, 03:07:10 PM

I keep having this problem. But I've got headers and the noise is coming from the right rear where it bolts to the head.

My spark plug porcelain looks clean on the plugs nearest the leak. But if your running a little rich, your plugs might have black soot on them near the leak if the problem is between the manifold and cylinder head.

Or there might be a sooty wring around your exhaust manifold flange where you tightened it.

Back N Black · May 05, 2008, 12:23:22 PM

Get a buddy with a rag and block the exhaust at the tailpipe, you should be able to find the exhaust leak no problem. It will be a hissing noise at the leak or more pronounced sound at the manifold.

Steve P. · May 05, 2008, 12:43:52 PM

Did you try to tighten the converter bolts or just look to SEE if they LOOKED loose? Sometimes the flex plate will make it look like the bolts are tight and they are not. Also if you DIDN'T lock-tite the threads I would pull them out one at a time and get some lock-tite on all of them. Good insurance.

FLG · May 05, 2008, 02:32:02 PM

I physically tried to tighten them. They were fine. Still have the noise, i dont think its an exhaust leak because that does not explain the fact that in neutral its louder and in park its almost non existent, its also noticeable in drive. It does increase with RPM's and eventually cannot be heard. I'll try to record the sound tonight. It sounds like metal tapping on metal. I would think lifters, but again...does not explain the noise almost going away when put in park.

Steve P. · May 05, 2008, 02:36:10 PM

So is it a tick, a knock or a rattle??

FLG · May 05, 2008, 02:42:59 PM

Well, i guess everyones definition of tick, rattle, or knock is different. But its not a knock, or rattle, its well what (me personally) would call a "tick", put it this way...sounds very close, if not; just like lifter noise, and well "then it is" but again, the whole disappearing act in park. This is why i think its just something on the linkage making noise and tapping against something, i would say it moves with RPM because its just vibrating with the engine...but i have yet to locate the source.

Just 6T9 CHGR · May 05, 2008, 05:38:58 PM

Loose spark plug?

FLG · May 05, 2008, 06:09:23 PM

Nope, all are good.

Steve P. · May 05, 2008, 06:30:20 PM

Have you been under the hood while someone else is shifting from Park to Neutral and back? Linkage rattling around??

Savage6 · May 05, 2008, 06:46:13 PM

I just had the same sort of problem. It was a flex plate bolt that needed replaced because the threads on the housing were bad. I just used a longer bolt with some loc-tite and the noise stopped. At first it did sound like something in the lifters. I know you said you checked the flex plate but I just figured I would let you know how I fixed mine. You dont think it could be the exhaust pipes rattling against something do you?

FLG · May 05, 2008, 07:21:14 PM

Steve, will give that a shot tomorrow. Also, Savage i will again check the flex plate...still have had to tick the engine over myself so it is possible i double checked the same bolt.

Steve P. · May 05, 2008, 08:31:37 PM

Rotate the motor by hand and make sure you check ALL the bolts.

FLG · May 08, 2008, 01:26:51 AM

Heres an update. Tonight i come home with the noise once again, this time i take a look before i put her away. I do know some sounds can bounce off things and sound like there coming from somewhere else, but i am almost positive this "tick" sounds like its coming from the tail shaft area of the transmission. I do have to fix the slow leak, but i always make sure its topped of..so fluid was not low. Could a clogged filter be the problem? I cant see what else it might be and i dont have too much know how about the inner workings of a tranny.

Edit: I will also do a more through look tomorrow morning, hearing the car idle at 3 am cant make the neighbors happy. Screw it, im going to change the fluid in the morning...smells a little burnt. I've had the car for a couple of months and havent changed it yet, think its overdue. Cant kill these 727's can ya?

RD · May 08, 2008, 07:31:31 AM

you know, if it doesnt tick while in park, but does tick in neutral and all your gears... it may be something to deal with your front pump on your 727. the pump gear does not flow fluid while in park, but will flow fluid throughout the trans in all other positions. look to see if the fluid is orange in color. take pics of fluid color, filter, etc. I am curious to see what it looks like.

Jamey

FLG · May 08, 2008, 10:02:51 AM

Will do RD. It does make the "Tick" in park, just much much lower, sometimes it goes away all together.

472 R/T SE · May 08, 2008, 02:38:51 PM

I had something similar happen. The ticking wasn't as consistent but varied depending whether it was in Park or not. I pulled the valve cover and the breather baffle had come off and was laying in there getting chewed up. Sounded just like an exhaust leak.

FLG · May 08, 2008, 04:58:35 PM

Tranny fluid changed. Didnt see any metal in the pan, just dirt. Shift from 1 to 2 seem nicer. The fluid smelled burnt and was more of a dirty/brown red. But alas the noise is still there. Its VERY apparent in drive and neutral but much quieter in park, but its still there. Only happens when its all warmed up, took a few trips around the block before it came back.

RD · May 08, 2008, 05:05:04 PM

and you are sure it is coming from the transmission area? front or rear of trans?

FLG · May 08, 2008, 05:15:04 PM

Positive RD. My cousins lift at the shop should be freed up by tomorrow or so, let me put the car on the lift so i can get a better idea of where its coming from and ill update everyone.

FLG · May 08, 2008, 05:50:52 PM

Well heres an update. I removed the dust cover again and checked each and every bolt on the flexplate. I started the car and crawled underneath, the noise is deff coming from the flywheel/flex plate area. I have a video, if i have some time ill post it up.

Just 6T9 CHGR · May 08, 2008, 08:17:54 PM

Heres how my flexplate came out of my old engine.....wasnt making any noise though

John_Kunkel · May 09, 2008, 04:45:02 PM

As stated earlier, noises are described differently by different people.

If the noise could be described as a "buzz" or a "moan" it could be caused by a rapidly cycling pressure regulator valve in the valve body. It would be expected to change tone when shifting from Park to Neutral because the pump load changes. This more of an annoyance than a real problem, the factory recommended fix is to replace the valve body.

Just 6T9 CHGR · May 09, 2008, 05:28:44 PM

Quote from: John_Kunkel on May 09, 2008, 04:45:02 PM
As stated earlier, noises are described differently by different people.
the factory recommended fix is to replace the valve body.

Then it will be time to put one of these in

FLG · March 30, 2009, 11:54:47 PM

Figure id shake this one up again,

Heres a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTEwmiKWS0&feature=channel_page

You can hear the noise in park, though once i put her in neutral it gets a bit more pronounced....figure id keep picking at you guys brains.

Again to reiterate....noise is NOT present when i start the car cold, nor is it present when it reaches op temp. The noise is only there after i start driving it and things warm up. The transmission fluid is fairly new and looks and smells fine. The noise is sometimes there in park, sometimes its silent or near silent in park and then if i put it into neutral its much more clearly heard. Its also heard in drive and any other gear selection.

firefighter3931 · March 31, 2009, 12:37:20 AM

It still sounds like a possible exhaust leak to me....possibly a cracked exhaust manifold that expands when the engine gets hot ? Hard to tell from that video but you can hear something is going on.

Ron

FLG · March 31, 2009, 12:49:41 AM

Thats what i was thinking but i can get the car to op temp and it still be silent. Wont make noise till i drive around, and if you listen carefully in the video when i switch it into neutral (right before i actually say it on camera) you can hear it get louder.

flyinlow · March 31, 2009, 12:58:43 AM

just a thought. Are you using correct flex plate bolts? Bolt heads are not touching the block as engine warms?

RECHRGD · March 31, 2009, 08:54:27 AM

Quote from: flyinlow on March 31, 2009, 12:58:43 AM
just a thought. Are you using correct flex plate bolts? Bolt heads are not touching the block as engine warms?

I was just thinking the same thing. When I bought my car it only had headers installed, so you couldn't hear anything like that. Once I put on mufflers, I heard a ticking sound and thats what it turned out to be. The bolt heads were too thick to properly clear the block. Look for some scuff marks on the bolt heads. Bob

FLG · March 31, 2009, 09:47:06 AM

I'll take a look in the next day or so...but when i checked the bolts last year they looked fine from what i remember.

dpm68 · April 02, 2009, 12:41:51 AM

I'm dying to hear the results!!!

FLG · April 02, 2009, 09:04:21 PM

And the verdict!!!

NOPE!

Bots are fine no marks at all, again all of them are tight. Everything looked fine

Sublime/Sixpack · April 02, 2009, 09:25:36 PM

I had a noise like that on my old Diplomat, the flexplate bolt heads were just barely making contact with the cover. Made a slight adjustment in the cover and the noise was gone.

FLG · October 20, 2009, 10:37:11 AM

Lets bring this back to the top again....ive basically begun to just live with it, but id really like to figure it out. I mean eventually i will be getting the tranny rebuilt but this just has been bothering me.

To reiterate:

- Noise in all gears, silent or near silent in park
- I can sit there all day with the engine running, it will NOT make the noise until i drive it around a bit
- All my flex plate bolts are tight
- Besides the noise the transmission shifts fine and does not slip.

There is a video posted on page 2

b5blue · October 20, 2009, 11:10:22 AM

3 things, you never were able to check the crank to flex plate bolts correct? Have you ever checked how much your crank can move back and forth (if at all) check for cracks in flex plate. The other thing is could it be that the converter is old and worn, just getting sloppy?

captnsim · October 20, 2009, 05:30:39 PM

I bet your flex plate is cracked where it bolts to the crank. I had a Trans Am that sounded great till you went for a drive. Then it would start ticking. No visible damage till I pulled the trans. Sounded like a exhaust/lifter noise.
I would suggest pulling the trans and inspecting the whole flex plate. Not just where it bolts to the converter.

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Ticking noise