Not Headers, Engine Ticks

Giezr · 06-13-2009

Hello All,

I recently put new headers on my 04 Auto V6 to get rid of the horrible exhaust tick when I started up the car. It worked great, however the call still ticks.

When I start the car it's most noticeable. When I drive at a steady RPM and speed I can't hear it. When I accelerate I hear it. When the car is in park and I stick my head under the hood I hear it. The car runs strong and does not seem to be adversely affected by this tick. I've talked to two shops that want to break down the engine to tell me what it is.

Any ideas or suggestions on the ticking?

Thanks,
Giezr

5.0stangluvr · 06-13-2009

could be the rockers ticking. I have seen otherwise perfectly good engines torn completely apart because of this. A lot of chevy trucks do this until the engine is warmed up. My truck does it sometimes in the winter when its really cold.

Does it tick less when warm?

Sound like a pen tapping on a table?

dwilly99 · 06-13-2009

hey sorry i dont have an answer for you but my 99 does the same thing i think is only ticks when idlein cuz a cant hear it any other time and yes mine sounds like a pen on a table

Giezr · 06-14-2009

It does quiet down as the engine warms up but it never goes away. It sounds like it's coming from the intake when the hood is up and I'm trying to listen as to where it's coming from. I really think it's coming from the valvetrain. Is it safe to run the engine with the valve covers off to see if I can tell where it's coming from? I've read about tightening up the rockers?

Thanks,
Giezr

5.0stangluvr · 06-14-2009

It would probably spurt oil all over the place with the valve covers off. You can take the covers off, with the engine off and wiggle the rockers. If they move excessively(more than 1/8 inch), or are loose, then that is likely to be your problem. I dont know the specific procedure on setting the rockers for that engine but I'm sure someone on here would know. I will try to find out.

I have also noticed quite a few ford trucks do it, too.

shinerstang · 06-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.0stangluvr

It would probably spurt oil all over the place with the valve covers off. You can take the covers off, with the engine off and wiggle the rockers. If they move excessively(more than 1/8 inch), or are loose, then that is likely to be your problem. I dont know the specific procedure on setting the rockers for that engine but I'm sure someone on here would know. I will try to find out.

I have also noticed quite a few ford trucks do it, too.

What type of headers did you replace it with? Have you gone back and retightened your headers bolts after a few heat cycles? What type of exhaust gaskets did you use?

Giezr · 06-15-2009

I used BBK Shorties, paid a shop to install them. I used the gaskets that they came with. The loud start-up tick is gone, which was obviously the cracks in the headers. The steady tick was still there when I picked up the car. Tomorrow morning I will try to tighten everything, see if that helps any.

Giezr

shinerstang · 06-15-2009

Check it out and let us know. I've heard people complain about the ticking from them......

rykrieg · 06-16-2009

MY 02 has ticked for the past 4 years now and there is no prob. I know my sig says I have Shorty Heads but that is beacause I am new here and am getting these this today and plan on putting them on this weekend. But I am hoping that will help the ticking noise for I am noticing it getting a little louder now. There is some good info in the above posts and thank everyone. I never thought about checking the rocker arms. I jsut assumed it was a bad seal when the engine is cold, then when it heats up, the metal expands and creates a good seal, thats the only thing I can think that makes the ticking go away after time.

Hope someone can come up with an OVERALL resolution.

ar0wan · 06-16-2009

I'm way out on a limb here but a short in the wires would cause a tick
By the posts above it sounds like its a little more serious than that
but if you take a peak in the engine in the dark of night
you should see a spark from any shorts in the wires
or you could just grab them one by one
I've done this by accident and don't really recommend it
did find the problem however

GuitarstarX7 · 06-16-2009

mine has a ticking sound. One of them fades away after about 20 seconds once the engine gets warmer. The other is always there and sounds like it is coming from the rockers. So mine might be a combination of a header leak and rockers, or, it could just be the rockers being more noisy until oil makes its way up the engine after being cold.

Does the ticking sound kinda like a sewing machine?