New Ticking Sound, What is it?

[jcc911]

I finally finished pulling the smog pump and injectors (plugged with weltmiester kit). In the process I replaced the flapper boxes and some hoses.
Also, I changed the oil (cleaned the sump screen and drained the tank) and pulled her out of storage.

Upon starting her for the first time this season, I am hearing a ticking noise that I have not heard before. IT seems to be comming from underneath car, somewhere around the passenger side heat exchanger.
I used all new exhaust and muffer glaskets. I am hoping that it could be an exhaust leak and I will try to find that when it cools.

However, what else could it be? Any one in the Milwaukee area have a minute to help diagnose?

Thanks all for your time, J.

[bigchillcar]

any enemies that may have a reason to do you in..?

seriously, could be a tiny exhust leak, but does the ticking speed up when you give it gas?
ryan

[jcc911]

It does seem to speed up upon acceleration, but I did not drive it far because I did not want to damage anything.

[bigchillcar]

just read that it had been sitting in storage. are you able to positively distinguish it from valve tapping?
ryan

[jcc911]

Not sure how to do that... how can one tell?

[bigchillcar]

well, people recommend adjusting valves at different intervals..some as often as every 10,000 miles, but in general over time they begin to 'loosen' and you begin to hear the tapping noise they make get progressively louder. this sound certainly varies with rpm. listen closely near the valve covers..maybe even touch the covers with a long screwdriver and listen against your ear, but it could be valves. do you know how long since the last adjustment? what's you oil level? just to verify..you do know to check it with engine running, level ground and at exactly operating temp (180 degrees)? otherwise, do you know any local milwaukee pelicans who you could meet with to help diagnose?
ryan

[jcc911]

OK i will check. I checked the oil level while running. After draining the tank and case. I gave it 12qts and that seemed to put the level between the marks.
Not Many Pelicans around here. I know of one, but is out of town for the weekend.
Not sure the last time the valves were adjusted. I have owned the car for 2.5 years and put on ~4K miles, but have not had it done yet. I could not find it in the P.O. receipts either. Probably is due. IF that were the issue, it could just start making noise, just all of a sudden?

[bigchillcar]

hmm..well, since my caris a daily driver and never in storage, i'm not sure..but it seems possible that by sitting for months it could appear to tap more than usual, maybe until it's been driven hard for a little while. i'd probably get it good and warm and drive it hard for a while and see if anything changes in the tapping..and verify proper oil level through the procedure i outlined..it's the only way on these cars to know it's correct - remember - volume varies greatly with temperature..and we carry a bunnnnch of oil! the oil level gauge in your car is designed to only be accurate at precisely operating temperature!
ryan

[jcc911]

Thanks for the help Ryan, I will do that. Unfortuantely it just started raining here... And those geniuses said it was supposed to be nice all weekend. One can never trust the weather man ;-) especially in Wisconsin.
Thanks Again.

[bigchillcar]

no prob, jc..good luck! i'm sure others will chime in and i might reccommend editing your thread title to include your location..i've found that that catches locals' attention better..then all the milwaukee troubleshooters (who are also inside because of the rain) will come out of the woodwork.. a little bit of trivia here..but my great, great great grandfather was solomon juneau, founder of milwaukee. i've never spent time in the city beyond the airport (former airline pilot), but i understand that there's a big bronze statue of him near city hall maybe?
ryan

[Jeff Alton]

If you want to check for an exhaust leak get a cheap stethoscope from your local auto parts store or an even cheaper length of house. Hold the hose to your ear and move the other end around the joints in the exhaust system. You will be able to hear the leak if there is one. You can also use it to pinpoint the area where the ticking noise is comming from.

Cheers

[jcc911]

No Kidding! I will have to look for that statue next time I am downtown. I think it is a great city for its size. The downtown area is being completely renovated and it looks better every year.
My only complaint is that the skyline could be better... but the Calatrava addition to the art museum is pretty cool. We soon will have an Aquarium as well. It is constantly changing.
Well if you ever are in town and need a place to stay, I am in the suburbs about 20 min west of downtown.

[jcc911]

So I got a little seat time in (about 30 miles), and the ticking did not go away. The oil level checked out fine, so it looks like I am going to have to get the valves adjusted.

[Huh]

Don't get your valves adjusted just yet. Look underneath at the exhaust manifolds at the bolts. See if on the head you see any black. If you see some black you probably have an exhaust leak. It happened to my SC during a DE event. I thought I had vavle tap at first because it did increase with rpm. But when I backed it up someone said it sounded like an exhaust leak. I got it on a rack and saw the black carbon residue. Does you car still have the power?

[bigchillcar]

good plan, huh..but he also may be due for a valve adjust anyway.

thanks for the invite, jc. i don't get out that much anymore, but will try and remember if i'm ever finding myself way north.. oh..any chance your records show when the last valve adjust may have been done?
ryan

[jcc911]

Power seems fine, the same as always. But if it never has had an adjustment since Ive owned it, how would I know of a powers loss?

[jcc911]

I will go through them again, but I do not recall seeing one.

[bigchillcar]

how would I know of a powers loss?

"butt dyno".. just means you may sense a loss of power, but i wouldn't think you'd notice unless the exhaust leak was significant. if you put your ears near the valve covers, does it sound like a 'sewing machine'? loose valves kinda sound that way..and a long screwdriver touching the covers, ear to the other end, you'd probably hear the noise of the valves. lot's of folks adjust them themselves at the same time that they schedule to do an oil change. a shop shouldn't charge more than $250 to do it.
ryan

[jcc911]

The quote I just got from one shop was $500.
I will try the screwdriver trick, but I do not have a very long screwdriver.

[bigchillcar]

woah..$500?? highway robbery! no..post a thread, indicating that you're in milwaukee..i know there's a bunch of good pelicans in milwaukee..i've been around here about 5 years and have seen them. have a get together (provide a little beer)..and in no time you'll have properly adjusted valves, new pals..at the cost of a little beer and the gasket kit/adjustment feelers. yeah, you need a long screwdriver..autozone..sears..
ryan