Help,TICK,TICK,TICK...............

[NCC1701]

I have been trying to get this problem fixed for awhile now. I had the exhaust checked for any cracks, nothing. I took it to a reputable buick mechanic and they said it was the cam sensor. Which they replaced Well I went to pick it up and the problem is still there. I am going to take it back to them soon, but i am really not sure what is causing it. It is quiet when I first start it up, bit after about 15-20 min. of driving, the ticking starts. It's not really noticable until I am stopped (stop sign, traffic, traffic light) Then you can't help but hear it.
AM i on the right track thinking it has something to do with the oil warming up and tolerances getting to tight when hot???

Thanks In Advance

 

[are_one]

My car does the exact same thing and I am stumped as well, anyone know whats the deal?.

 

[MSDGN]

Would help if you could tell where the sound is coming from...at least the general area...use a piece of garden hose or mechanics stethoscope.

 

[blackbuick87]

Is it in the front of the engine, rear, drivers side, pass side, etc.

Ticking sounds are often caused by a small leak in a header or the crossover.

Could be as simple as loose rockers, or it could be a lifter that is bleeding down.

 

[Turbo Brian]

Exhaust ticks quiet down as the car warms up and the cracks close.

Oil pressure related ticks increase as the oil gets hotter and the viscosity gets thinner. If the problem gets worse warm, it might be low oil pressure or a single lifter that is just starting to bleed down.

 

[turbo nasty]

I had a funny tick. in my ride and I chased it all over the place and a circle track buddy said to check my flexplate. And It was cracked all up..guess it is common on the turbo regals ..pull the inspection cover and take a look if it is cracked it will be between the bolt holes and the other holes around it.

 

[NCC1701]

thanks.........

I will try to determine were it is coming from.

 

[QuickWE4]

Probably should have checked your sig, but go to a heavier weight oil on your next change. See if the ticking comes back. If you have a million miles on the motor, this would at least take care of the ticking for the time being and pinpoint it as an oil pressure problem.

Rich

 

[turbo buicks]

the injectors can make a ticking noise too, its normal. see if its them. i can hear my 50s in the car.

 

[bsdlinux]

Mine does the same thing..

Ticking?Knocking noise from cam sensor area. You can actually feel the knocking on top of the cam sensor and in the oil pump area around the filter.

Only does it when it is warm. 80psi cold / 25psi hot

 

[turbo nasty]

Check the flexplate ..I had the same problem.. chased my tail in a circle ...and the flexplate was cracked.

 

[bsdlinux]

Originally posted by turbo nasty
Check the flexplate ..I had the same problem.. chased my tail in a circle ...and the flexplate was cracked.

Ok, that is a good thing to look at. But how in the hell would the flexplate make a knocking sound in only the oil pump/cam sensor area and not anywhere else?

Also why would the flexplate only tick when the engine is warmed up?

 

[machinegun]

Thermal expansion answers the why it would. The sound can be transferred up the crank to the timing set. I have not personally seen this but have heard of it occuring. Check it anyway just to see if the cam sensor is acting up.

 

[6=8]

Crankshaft Sensor

I had a ticking problem:

Check the crankshaft sensor behind the harmonic balancer. If it is hitting, this could be where the ticking is coming from. This was my problem.

Check each tab or tooth of the reluctor ring as it passes through the actual sensor. I found while one or two did not hit, the third would. Takes a little patience, but you can find a happy medium setting that will clear everything. I used a piece of heavy paper as a feeler guage, checking both sides for proper clearence. HTH!

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

bet ya its timing chain slap which makes the cam sensor knock

cant really get away from it unless you go with a nice tight chain that dont use a tensioner

the stock syle tensioner will not stop the chain from going loose tight loose tight it just keeps the chain from slapping around while it does it.

so while the cam jumps forward and back it in turn jumps back and forth with the cam sensor.

you can shim the play up in the cam sensor and probly get it quieter

oh yeah mine stopped doing it now that I have a roll master double roller timing chain

 

[.38 special]

I am willing to bet as your oil heats up, your oil pressure goes down. Then the top of your motor starves for oil. So the tick is in your valvetrain. To see if this is your problem, simply put fresh oil in it. If you aren't running a thick oil, then do so. If the noise isn't loud, then I wouldn't worry too much. We all have a little valve noise. I change my oil pretty often to avoid this. New cam bearings would probably help.

 

[BADDGUY6]

Is the ticking coming from the valve cover? I had a ticking problem. As soon as the oil warms up. Sometimes it would tick sometimes it would not. The ticking would sometimes go away if I shut the motor down and re start. The problem was a rocker arm button. One of them (button) was cracked so the rocker arm tapped. Try listening to the valve covers. And take off the one you hear ticking from. You might have to rev. motor to get it to start ticking. And with the motor running press down on each rocker arm to find which one is ticking.

Guy

 

[bsdlinux]

Red - It very well could be timing chain slap. Although it is a new Comp Cams timing set, motor has about 6k on it.
BTW: it just starting doing this, not something I heard before.
Don't hear it until the oil warms up and the car is idleing around 850.

.38 Special - car has new oil in it. I have plenty of valvetrain noise that comes form the 218/218 Comp Cam. I don't believe this noise is a valve train noise. Can't feel the knocking anywhere else on the block except for the cam sensor and oil pump area.

I love this car, but I wish I could make it as quiet as my old small block chevy's were. These damn engines are noisy as hell.

 

[WIKEDV6]

It is probably one of your lifters, the Comp lifters are notorious for ticking.My cousins car with Comp cam 212/212, the lifter ticking noise comes and goes.


Good luck

Prasad

 

[Joe Tiano]

hMMM...the last time I pulled a motor out of my car...I found my tic,tic,tic...it was an exhaust leak!...the header was cracked around the port were the flange bolts to the block#5 cyl...the sound got louder as it got hotter....header cracks get bigger when they heat up!...some cracks cant be seen with the headers on the car! later joe