Engine Tick? Update... sorta....

[Drache]

Having a ticking sound now coming from my engine. Oil level is fine.

It appears only after I start driving the car, usually about 5 minutes, maybe a little less.

Anyways here's a link to a sound recording, sorry for the crappy audio but it was the only thing I have here at work that I could use. It's hard to tell but you can here this "ticking" in the background faintly.

http://www.youconvertit.com/Download/DT.aspx?T=8769722e-8617-4df8-8a94-10041a6cbeae

[squeakfinder]

      I haven't watched the video. But what your describing sounds like an exhaust leak.

[bobs66440]

More often than not, that sound is an exhaust leak...either from one of the headers/manifolds or from the connection to the header pipe. But most likely where it bolts to the head. Look for tell-tale black streaks coming from around the header flanges/manifolds. 

[Drache]

More often than not, that sound is an exhaust leak...either from one of the headers/manifolds or from the connection to the header pipe. But most likely where it bolts to the head. Look for tell-tale black streaks coming from around the header flanges/manifolds.  

My engine isn't exactly the cleanest but I'll try to look when the sun comes out hopefully tomorrow.

The guys over at Forabodiesonly.com believe it's one of my lifters that is FUBAR'd

They say the sound is more of a ping.

[Drache]

Forgot to mention, the ticking gets faster when I put my foot on the gas and slows down to normal when I take my foot off the gas.

[squeakfinder]

    Exhaust flange or header gasket possibly. Any welds on the exhaust system that have sooty black streaks might also be a location of a leak that would cause that ticking.

[bobs66440]

Forgot to mention, the ticking gets faster when I put my foot on the gas and slows down to normal when I take my foot off the gas.

That's natural regardless because it's all dependent on engine speed, whether it's a leak or a lifter. As mentioned, it could be a lifter...but if a lifter is bad (collapsed), it would make the noise all the time, hot or cold. If it is a lifter that's slow to pump up, it would make the noise when cold then slowly go away. You said it comes on after it's warm, which leads me to believe that it's an exhaust leak. Anything is possible and the sounds are very similar, but I would eliminate the easy causes first. Check to make sure the header/manifold bolts are tight. After it warms up and starts making the noise, you may be able to feel the puff of air from the leak if you CARFULLY (do not touch anything) move your hand around the area where the manifold is mounted or where the noise is coming from.

Check out this thread. Identical situation...
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,80719.msg907999/topicseen.html#msg907999

[Drache]

So if I have to replace my manifolds, is it better to just go with headers or stay with manifolds?

[bobs66440]

So if I have to replace my manifolds, is it better to just go with headers or stay with manifolds?

I don't know why you would have to replace your manifolds unless they are cracked. It may just be a loose bolt or a blown-out gasket. If it turns out to be cracked, the cheapest way to go would be to get another manifold like you already have. You can also go with headers or HP manifolds, then you will have to change your exhaust connections.

[Drache]

Ok here's the latest. Took it to a couple different shops including back to my cousins shop and each one told me they couldn't actually hear this ticking noise.

So I sat around the cousin's shop and with the head mechnic we started listening around. There is a noise though coming from underneath the car and sounds like it's coming from about dead center of the car about two feet or so from behind the rear wheels. You can hear it from both sides. I'll try to get a sound recording tomorrow as I'm at work until midnight.

My instant thought was something wrong with the tranny (thats roughly the location of where the engine and tranny hook up is it not) but the mechnic checked it out as best he could without me actually taking it to a transmission shop to tear down and look over.

My exhaust has checked out twice from what they've looked into. The car is running near perfectly although tuning it to that sweet spot is being a pain. The idle is near dead steady (no real fluctuations that I see) and the car shifts at around 3000rpm (accord to my new tach that my cousin installed).

Now two things I've noticed about my tranny. I was told it had a stall converter or shift kit by the last owner but he didn't know exactly what (go figure). BUT the car has a decent "lurch" from first to second and second to third. Im not sure how to best describe it. The faster you are going when you hit these gear changes the less of the lurch but at slow speed it's noticeble. It's not a jerking motion but more of the car want to lurch forward.

Also maybe it's just me but if you carefully put on the gas it seems you can get the car up to about 1000rpm before the car actually starts moving.

I'm at a loss. I've dumped pretty much of all my savings into the car right now and I could be chasing ghosts in the machine with money until I'm forced to live out of it.

[twodko]

I had a very similar tick, turned out to be an exhaust mani gasket.

[Drache]

I had a very similar tick, turned out to be an exhaust mani gasket.

At first that is what I thought but the sound appears to be coming from dead center of the car (its clear listening from both sides) and it sounds be coming from underneath the car more towards the tranny than the engine but who knows. The sound is clearest from underneath rather than sticking my head into the engine bay that's for sure.

[FLG]

Video is taking some time to download...must be the site being slow.

If you sure its not the exhaust remove the inspection shield from the transmission and make sure your flexplate bolts are tight and that there are no cracks on it.

I had a tick from my car from the transmission, it would only start making the noise when it got warm and it would change pitch or simply dissapear if put it in park and be much more prevalent in neutral. All the bolts were tight, car ran and drove just fine so i just lived with it until i started the resto.

Edit: Hard to hear in your video, this is what mine sounded like..much louder and was annoying as heck...i just lived with it, never had any issues though.

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

[Drache]

Ok here's a video I tried to take from under the car trying to catch the tick. I never thought a tick would be so hard to capture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuGYF9Z-wZk

[doctor4766]

Sounds like my Charger.
I have HP manifolds and there is a small leak where the passenger's side meets up with the exhaust.
If I put my hand down next to the flange I can feel that there is air coming through the elongated hole where one of the bolts goes through.(Easier when the car's cold so you don't burn your hand)

[Drache]

Sounds like my Charger.
I have HP manifolds and there is a small leak where the passenger's side meets up with the exhaust.
If I put my hand down next to the flange I can feel that there is air coming through the elongated hole where one of the bolts goes through.(Easier when the car's cold so you don't burn your hand)

Well that's good to know that it's probably not engine problems.

[Back N Black]

Check torque converter bolts, i have seen them just loose enough to make a tick when hitting on rotation. Also, you could take a rag or wear a glove and put you hand over the tailpipe plugging it off, this will force the exhaust gases to exit the leak and you will be able to pinpoint it better. Have someone checking while you are inspecting for leaks.