Clacking/Ticking Noise at Idle to ~1.5K
12-06-2011, 02:53 AM
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Clacking/Ticking Noise at Idle to ~1.5K Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar symptoms and what came of it.
2002 Z28 A4 62K Bone Stock
What I know:
-Steady (not erratic) clack/tick noise at idle up to about ~1.5K rpm while in reverse or in gear. Speeds up with rpm's but over 1.5K it's quiet as a mouse.
-Oil pressure is strong, steady, and responsive. It never goes below 40.
-Car runs strong, no loss of power.
-Popped the inspection cover off the transmission and looked for a good while for cracks in the flexplate, and I couldn't see any unless they're behind the converter pads.
-Searched all over the engine with a mechanics stethascope, and it seems to be most noticeable at the front of the valley cover and intake.
I thought it may be piston slap, but it never goes away even fully warmed up though it quiets down a little when warm. Then maybe cracked flexplate, but after inspection maybe not. Leads me to believe it's a possible lifter, but I have know way of knowing for sure I guess without yanking the heads. Like I said just curious if anyone has had the same symptoms or if it's even something to worry about.
2002 Z28 A4 62K Bone Stock
What I know:
-Steady (not erratic) clack/tick noise at idle up to about ~1.5K rpm while in reverse or in gear. Speeds up with rpm's but over 1.5K it's quiet as a mouse.
-Oil pressure is strong, steady, and responsive. It never goes below 40.
-Car runs strong, no loss of power.
-Popped the inspection cover off the transmission and looked for a good while for cracks in the flexplate, and I couldn't see any unless they're behind the converter pads.
-Searched all over the engine with a mechanics stethascope, and it seems to be most noticeable at the front of the valley cover and intake.
I thought it may be piston slap, but it never goes away even fully warmed up though it quiets down a little when warm. Then maybe cracked flexplate, but after inspection maybe not. Leads me to believe it's a possible lifter, but I have know way of knowing for sure I guess without yanking the heads. Like I said just curious if anyone has had the same symptoms or if it's even something to worry about.
12-06-2011, 08:23 AM
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Yeah, Polynikes I believe you are just talking about the 'normal' sounds of these LS1 engines. Mine has been doing that since 2001. Some days more noticeable than others and usally completely gone when fully warmed up.
12-06-2011, 08:36 AM
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My Vette makes all kinds of noise when i start it first thing in the morning andwhen i had a 2010 Camaro SS it made noise also but it only had 10 miles on it when i got it so it was not bad yet !!!!
12-06-2011, 10:22 AM
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This sounds like classic piston slap, which is nothing to worry about.
My '02 does the exact same thing, and has been for all the years and 10s of thousands of miles I've owned it. Even after the engine is warm, it will still be there a little bit unless the outside temps are above 70° or so.
My '02 does the exact same thing, and has been for all the years and 10s of thousands of miles I've owned it. Even after the engine is warm, it will still be there a little bit unless the outside temps are above 70° or so.
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12-06-2011, 11:07 AM
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It's time for a new mechanic!
12-06-2011, 12:07 PM
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I have the same thing. It's a constant ticking sound at idle/low rpms. I eventually gave up trying to figure out what it was and just convinced myself it was the engine telling me it loved me...
From what nearly everyone on the board says it's normal, so I guess I was right
From what nearly everyone on the board says it's normal, so I guess I was right
12-06-2011, 12:27 PM
#11
You know, I had the EXACT same thing, idle to 1.5k RPMs, especially under a load, warm or cold. Stayed the same even after new internal parts with a cam swap, etc.
I then took the AIR and EGR off my car when I did the swap, capping off the pipes off the headers that connect to the AIR emissions system.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
I read that if there is a tiny leak where the AIR system connects to the headers/exhaust manifolds, this is the sound it makes. Try looking into that. If that turns out fine, don't worry about it.
I then took the AIR and EGR off my car when I did the swap, capping off the pipes off the headers that connect to the AIR emissions system.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
I read that if there is a tiny leak where the AIR system connects to the headers/exhaust manifolds, this is the sound it makes. Try looking into that. If that turns out fine, don't worry about it.
12-06-2011, 01:59 PM
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You know, I had the EXACT same thing, idle to 1.5k RPMs, especially under a load, warm or cold. Stayed the same even after new internal parts with a cam swap, etc.
I then took the AIR and EGR off my car when I did the swap, capping off the pipes off the headers that connect to the AIR emissions system.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
I then took the AIR and EGR off my car when I did the swap, capping off the pipes off the headers that connect to the AIR emissions system.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
This sounds like classic piston slap, which is nothing to worry about.
My '02 does the exact same thing, and has been for all the years and 10s of thousands of miles I've owned it. Even after the engine is warm, it will still be there a little bit unless the outside temps are above 70° or so.
My '02 does the exact same thing, and has been for all the years and 10s of thousands of miles I've owned it. Even after the engine is warm, it will still be there a little bit unless the outside temps are above 70° or so.
Yeah, I guess it's just more of an annoyance than anything. Car runs strong! It hasn't got any worse, and I don't notice any adverse effects from it. I'll just let it eat until I'm done with my other project and can get started doing some mods on this one. Thanks guys
12-07-2011, 08:46 AM
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Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar symptoms and what came of it.
2002 Z28 A4 62K Bone Stock
What I know:
-Steady (not erratic) clack/tick noise at idle up to about ~1.5K rpm while in reverse or in gear. Speeds up with rpm's but over 1.5K it's quiet as a mouse.
-Oil pressure is strong, steady, and responsive. It never goes below 40.
-Car runs strong, no loss of power.
-Popped the inspection cover off the transmission and looked for a good while for cracks in the flexplate, and I couldn't see any unless they're behind the converter pads.
-Searched all over the engine with a mechanics stethascope, and it seems to be most noticeable at the front of the valley cover and intake.
I thought it may be piston slap, but it never goes away even fully warmed up though it quiets down a little when warm. Then maybe cracked flexplate, but after inspection maybe not. Leads me to believe it's a possible lifter, but I have know way of knowing for sure I guess without yanking the heads. Like I said just curious if anyone has had the same symptoms or if it's even something to worry about.
2002 Z28 A4 62K Bone Stock
What I know:
-Steady (not erratic) clack/tick noise at idle up to about ~1.5K rpm while in reverse or in gear. Speeds up with rpm's but over 1.5K it's quiet as a mouse.
-Oil pressure is strong, steady, and responsive. It never goes below 40.
-Car runs strong, no loss of power.
-Popped the inspection cover off the transmission and looked for a good while for cracks in the flexplate, and I couldn't see any unless they're behind the converter pads.
-Searched all over the engine with a mechanics stethascope, and it seems to be most noticeable at the front of the valley cover and intake.
I thought it may be piston slap, but it never goes away even fully warmed up though it quiets down a little when warm. Then maybe cracked flexplate, but after inspection maybe not. Leads me to believe it's a possible lifter, but I have know way of knowing for sure I guess without yanking the heads. Like I said just curious if anyone has had the same symptoms or if it's even something to worry about.
I have piston slap, I have a lid and a cat-back and I put down 310 so I dont think piston slap affects engine performance.
12-07-2011, 10:52 AM
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12-07-2011, 11:22 AM
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my piston slap in my 03 tahoe, w/5.3L, always goes away within minutes, so i dont think that is what your noise is. i did have a noise similar to yours (in my 98 z28) and mine went away when i took off the air/egr systems.