I have a 2000 Trans Am, and occasionally can hear a "tick" sound. Sounds like something is arcing to me. The wierd part is it happens intermintently; some days I won't even hear it at all. For example, you'll hear "tick tick tick....[3 second pause]....tick tick..." It seems to be rpm dependent, BUT if I slowly rev the engine past around 3k rpm, it just goes away. The spark plug wires are newer, and all the plugs seem tight.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

A lifter tick perhaps? Common on ALL GM engines. Old and new.

 

I would agree they are very commonn with the GM engines. If the ticking is really loud I would recommand changing yiou lifters. When you do a cam swap that is when more people change out the lifter's

 

im having the same issue i can here it periodically and after 1500 rpms it goes away

 

I just consider it "normal" with GM engines. I only have 18k miles and I have a little tick already. Unless it gets really loud, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Yeah, I mean I know how noisy these engines can be. My oil pressure is fine/steady at idle, so I didn't think it could be anything major.

So lifter tick does happen randomly like the situation I'm in? I was planning on buying a cam and was going to get the LS7 lifters. Are there better/quieter ones out there, or will those be fine?

 

Lifter or Rocker tick most likely, hopefully the needle bearings don't let lose out of one of them.