WTF is this ticking noise???
WTF is this ticking noise??? After cam swap my car developed a nice ticking noise. Thought maybe it was exhaust leak but after tightening headers real good it still persists. Hardened pushrods were installed, and spark plugs were put in 6 months ago during header install. Ticking is coming from the rear of the engine, can't tell if it's drivers or passenger side. It happens at all times while the engine is running, but intensifies loudly during acceleration. No noticeable power loss during everyday driving. 
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 535
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From: Warner Robins, GA
A search of the word "ticking " produced 10 pages of excellent reading on the subject.
It's a fact that these engines like to tick. Some more than others. You might as well get use to it!
It's a fact that these engines like to tick. Some more than others. You might as well get use to it!
Originally Posted by jub jub
A search of the word "ticking " produced 10 pages of excellent reading on the subject.
It's a fact that these engines like to tick. Some more than others. You might as well get use to it!
It's a fact that these engines like to tick. Some more than others. You might as well get use to it!
That search also produced diff situations then the specific one I explained. I figured with solid details of my SPECIFIC situation explaining the exact mods I did would MAYBE help narrow it down. I understand what the search button is trust me I use it several times a day. This ticking is loud and by no means normal.
Is it consistent with crankshaft speed, camshaft speed, or vehicle speed? Since the crankshaft turns twice for every one time the camshaft turns...it will help diagnose it. More than likely its a valvetrain problem...but who knows.
check the bolts at your collectors, look for black streaks...and if you still have your AIR check that out to, after i got my headers it didn't want to seal all the way. might need a new gasket or something
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OK guys here is the update. The ticking is coming from the passenger side of the engine. It gets louder and faster during acceleration and slows while I slow down. Also forgot to mention that after cam swap I switched to Mobil 1 full synthetic for the first time, don't know if that factors in or not.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 782
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From: North Las Vegas, NV
check your spark plug wires. I had the same thing happen to the TA only to find out that one of the wires wasn't on quite all the way. If you check them and they are ok, I'd check elsewhere. Double check the rockers and make sure they're toqued down to 23ft-lbs.
The 174 code seems to suggest further evidence of a leak on the passenger side dude. Rejoice in that for a few seconds...be absolutely certain this is not up top and or outside before you start pulling heads for the lifters... The sound is all the time? Hot, cold, high rev, idle... sounds more like a exhaust leak. What kind of exhaust set up do you have? What did you have to dismantle to do the cam swap? I know this sounds like my wife asking the stupid questions when I am franticaly hunting for my keys but...
174 code just set this afternoon. Also had a little backfire yesterday for the first time in a long while. The car ticks all the time....idle, accelerate decelerate you name it. It is really loud and obnoxious when I hit the throttle though, and the higher up I go the worse it gets. It is extremely noticeable, sounds ghetto IMO and it is driving me nuts. My idle is also dipping down occasionally to 600 RPMs when I pull the car out of gear, but it recovers right back up to 900 RPMs. As far as exhasut setup I have Pacesetter LT along with a Hooker CB. Lt were installed with new spark plugs and O2 extensions back in Sept. Cam was installed in Feb./March.
Think it could be the plugs even if they were changed out during header install in Sept? Wires are still stock.......As far as cam titanium retainers and new 918 springs were installed too.