Silver C

Theres an engine ticking sound whenever i first turn my engine on.. The ticking is very loud and goes away after like 4-5secs. Im running a c240 by the way...

Also during idle or running, there is a faint ticking sound audible most from the passanger side (which is on the left side, im a right hand drive) and iit sounds like coming from the engine compartment. I can hear the sound clearer when the hood is open and im standing in front. Howvere i cant pinpoint the origin.

There are no signs of engine unstability or oil drips either..

Two other minor niggles that i would also like to ask.. First every morning my exhaust spews very faint white smoke. I suspect that this is water vapor, well at least i hope so. I touched the inside of my exhaust and only rubbed on water. Secondly, the headlamp levelling lever near the steering wheel, seems to suck/blow air on the 0 1 2 setting... With 0 sounding the loudest. When i dialled my lever to 3, theres no sound at all. What air could be circulating near or around that lever? If i press or wiggle the lever, the sound of the airflow changes. I also tried turning off my ac, but the air flow sound is still there.. What gives?

Thanks guys, would appreciate any inputs.

KalC240

Ok the ticking noise is normal, it's the Purge Valve, very well discussed all over the forum.

Now, I do not understand this headlamp levelling thing. I too drive the c240 (plain, not 4-matic or whatever the other luxury model is). What year or line is yours specifically?

Silver C

Yes the purge valve is definitely tye culprit. Will changing it to a brand new one solve the issue? If it does solve the issue, how long would it usually stay quiet? I mean i wouldnt want to go changing it every other month..

Regarding the hissing air sound from my headlamp levelling lever, it has something to do with my headlamp vaccuum or something. I gave my indie a call and he said that id need to bring it in to have it rechecked after installing a third party projector headlamp.

Im running a 2001 btw..

samaritrey

The purge valve should stop making noise if you replace it but it is like $80 so i live with my noisy one.

as for the headlight issue the us does not have this so really none of us know much about them so you might have to just take it in for that.

Silver C

Yes the purge valve is not as cheap as I wouldve liked. But I'm wondering how long will the new purge valve stay silent before it develops the ticking sound again? If it will last two years or so, I won't mind shelling out the cost to replace it. But if the tick will come back in a few months then I'd forget about changing it..

Thanks guys..

Glyn M Ruck

My purge valve is still dead quiet at 62,000 Km - you won't replace it every few months

Silver C

Well that is assuring to know that I won't need to change the valve every now and then.. Why does it tick in the first place btw?

eesjunin

underhood mercedes benz gremlins! he he he

Silver C

Hahaha.. Well I guess I will needsome gremlin repellants installed!