GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

I have the infamous ticking that most have and cant seem to pinpoint. It's coming from the passenger side intake/head/top of motor area and the sound is amplified through the wheel well. The video isnt greatest quality because it's a digital camera but you should get the idea. I hope someone has some ideas. I pulled the valve cover and checked 4 pushrods but ran out of good 8mm sockets to check any more so I put it back together.

THe sound starts almost immediately (10-20 seconds) as the motor is started and it increases with rpm. Pushrods, dont think so, lifters possibly. let me knwo guys. Thanks for your help. ive had this issue for a year or more and it's slighty worse than it has been

here's the video
http://home.comcast.net/~sswannabee9...eg_ticking.MOV

tomaSS

iTrader: (1)

I had a ticking noise too, but it went away after I changed the pushrods and springs. One of the pushrods was bent and I am almost positive it was that. I would check all the pushrods. It says in your sig that you hit the rev limiter in your racing so I would bet that it is a bent pushrod.

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

well, it's alot less of a common issue with us A4 guys. Sorry about the vid not working. I'm trying to get my account setup correctly.

I will likely check pushrods again.

VaNDaL*SS*

iTrader: (1)

**** that must be mine too that sux, well when i do my cam and springs ill get new push rods

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

ill probably do the same thing as you, if it's pushrods ill be very happy. dont want it to be a lifter

hc_performance

iTrader: (4)

what is your oil pressure like?

VaNDaL*SS*

iTrader: (1)

mine is over 40 all the time, when i get on it it gets close to 80, also when i get on it the oil pressure drops back to 40 is this normal?

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

30-40 is right at idle, and maybe 60 cruising and a little higher on WOT. were you thinking oil pump o-ring?

Cal

iTrader: (1)

I've got mine torn down right now with the same problem. So far I've got one head off, and haven't found anything that looks damaged. I'm going to replace all my lifters with Comp stock replacements whether they look bad or not.

I bounced off the rev limiter all last summer, but none of my Thunder Racing push rods are bent more than about 7 thousandths of an inch, so I don't think that is the problem.

ILLWS6

iTrader: (13)

I had the same noise. I tried everything except that damn oil pump o-ring,which is what it turned out to be. I didn't think it was because my oil pressure looked good,and I remembered the pick up tube going on without a hitch. Long story short, now my motor is in pieces at TTP.
Check or replace ALL of the pushrods, then try changing that o-ring. It's alot of work for such A small, simple part, but it may save you alot of money and grief in the end. TRUST ME!

barracuda68

Oil pump ring was the problem with mine too.

Crazy Man

iTrader: (6)

Mine did the same thing sounded like it was coming from the top for shure on the drivers side not push rods or lifters was the rod bearings. Now I have a forged motor.

OneBad98Z

iTrader: (1)

im sure youve checked the obvious, but is it possibly an exhaust leak?

just figured id throw the thought out..



later,
Greg

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

i still dont think it could be pushrods. All the time it's been doing it, it should have gotten much much worse. It also doesnt seem like a lifter, but I'm not ruling that out. I'm just hoping it's not a rod bearing. I had an ASP pulley installed a long time ago, that shouldnt have had any effect on the o-ring should it? nothing below the timing cover should have been touched. I guess the easiest thing to do is replace things one at a time, neither which i have much time nor money to do so. sometimes it's quieter than others. I dont get it

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

im sure it isnt a leak, thanks though

Byter

iTrader: (1)

This may sound stupid, but it helped my ticking. I didn't put the last bolt on the coil packs on each valve cover (on the right side, the one closest to the firewall, on the left side, the one under the alternator). On a whim, I put them back and the noise subsided. DUH...

Jonathan@Tick

iTrader: (5)

Mine had a tick in the topend which turned out to be a bent pushrod. If the tick is worse at startup, or it comes and goes it might be a lifter. An M6 Going from 3rd to 2nd at 6000rpm=bent pushrods! A4's aren't so bad.

ILLWS6

iTrader: (13)

Why are you so sure it's not a pushrod? It won't cost you a dime to check them and it's not hard. BTW you'll have to pull the heads to do the lifters and since the oil pump pickup has never been apart, I'd say its safe to rule that out.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

Well I just found out what was causing mine to tick: one lifter looks like it got turned sideways! The plastic thing that keeps all the lifters running true is warped. Hopefully I can re-use my camshaft . . .

GregWS6&z28

iTrader: (8)

i checked only a couple pushrods but i had cheap sockets and one was broken so i put it all back together. The ones i was able to get out rolled smooth on some glass. My last motor (stock LS1) had the same tick but it wasnt as loud. (I have that motor at home and have checked all the pushrods also and they all seem straight and the lifters look good). THe plastic lifter cups werent warped or anything. I replaced my last motor because it was hydrolocked. I cant pinpoint the sound using the stick-to-ear method either. None of my friends have any ideas on this one, and most are mechanics.
also: For the last 2 years I've had a Hypertech tune on the Z with a 6400 rev limiter. I have had a slight hit off the rev limiter but it was just a slight tap.