PA_Pete

Okay, I did a STFF and couldn't really find anything too specific on my particular issue. Here's the story. I leave for work this morning and everything is fine. I'm taking it really easy going to work trying to get the best mileage out of my car that I can. Anyways, I pull up to work in the parking lot and put my car in park, and crack my windows to let air through the car. Once I open the windows though, I hear a kinda loud ticking noise? So I step out of the car while it's still running and hear that it's coming from my car! So immediately I pop the hood to see if it's coming from there, nope. Next I lay on the ground under the car, bingo! Sounds almost like an exhaust leak or an exhaust shield vibrating causing this noise, sounds like a tractor running. So I put my foot up on the resonator (the whole exhaust system and car for that matter are stock) to maybe keep it from moving or shaking if that was the problem, nothing, still ticking. So I hop in the car, put my foot on the brake and put the transmission into Reverse, IT STOPS! Then into neutral, starts ticking again! Then into drive which makes the ticking stop. So I'm wondering, has anyone have this issue before and was it in fact the transmission making this noise? If not, does anyone have any clue as to what this may be? Any help would be appreciated. I might go to the dealership at lunch, and me and my friend are going to run outside and check it out a little more closely. Thanks for reading my huge post if you did, and if I find out what's going on, I'll let you all know.

Glyn M Ruck

Oh hell! - how long is a piece of string? - may be a cracked flex plate??? - good luck

PA_Pete

I don't get it? Do you mean that it could be anything?

Glyn M Ruck

It could be a lot of things - noises are hell to diagnose by remote control. One persons tick is anothers clatter. The torque converter is attached to the flywheel/crankshaft by a flex plate. If these crack or break they make a whole variety of noises. If you load the box they will generally shut up. Take a long screw driver - put one end against your ear & the other on the bell housing. See if it's coming from there. It's a start. You will have to do it by a process of elimination

Done any sprint starts against the brakes lately?

C230 Sport Coup

Check the belt tensioners and pullies.
Seriously. I had this problem and thats what it was.
A long screwdriver can act as a stethoscope to narrow it down.

Mine was ocilating at idle, and was visible. I replaced the tensioner & pulley, belt, and idler pulley. Went away and never came back.

PA_Pete

Yes, I know, I'm not looking forward to this. I haven't done any sprint starts or beating the thing. I'm def. gonna have to look around the car this weekend.

Thanks, I will check into this. By the way, I have your transmission flush write up saved, I plan on doing that soon, I hope, I'm just over 62,000 miles, so I want to try to get it done early, plus it's a 2001, so I have no idea if it was ever changed or flushed before.

Glyn M Ruck

BTW Pete - do you hear any strange noises when cranking the car to start? This can also provoke flex plate noise because that's what the ring gear is attached to.

Glyn M Ruck

Hey Bud - you find anything yet? To put a positive spin on things - it could be something really simple - we always somehow expect the worse.

PA_Pete

Not quite yet. I had the car up on jack stands over the weekend while lying underneath the car with a huge screwdriver. I was placing it on different components (and holding it up to my ear) while a friend was in the car revving the gas. I am still baffled by this sound. I was unable to duplicate what it did for me the other day when I had it parked and it was making that horrible ticking noise. Now it seems to do it at a certain RPM range, mostly while driving. Another thought that crossed my mind was loose pieces in the cat. I've had this before with another car and it sounded similar, where part of the honeycomb was loose and rattling around in the converter.

stuntman314

My car makes the exact smae noise I was wondering this also, but I give my car hell.

Glyn M Ruck

While I would not call it ticking it could well be something in the exhaust, loose baffle, loose piece of honeycomb etc. This is a ***** because they move around - come & go etc depending on where whatever is loose lodges. Try hitting the exhaust with a rubber mallet - when it is cold & listen for things rattling around inside. Usually works.

SeaCoupe

It could be a worn motor mount. Check your mounts for cracking.

E

PA_Pete

I checked this out and got nothing, so I don't believe it is the source of the noise, but thank you for your input, I need all I can get especially being that this is a mystery noise and they ARE very hard to track down and diagnose.

PA_Pete

I will check into this, thank you for making me aware of this possibly being a culprit.

I am also going to try this! Thanks everyone for being so patient with such a vague issue.

Glyn M Ruck

Out with that screwdriver stethoscope of yours again. If it's a mounting you will hear it

Glyn M Ruck

No worries Bro. That's what the forum is all about

SeaCoupe

Have no idea what you are talking about. But in my case, I had a similar issue and it was my motor mounts. So I'm speaking from experience.

E

Glyn M Ruck

Sorry for my cryptic messages. I'm agreeing with you that it could be a mounting. I've just got him using a screwdriver against the ear to pinpoint where the noise is coming from. If he puts a long screwdriver against his ear and touches the other end of it against the mountings he will clearly hear if that's where the noise is coming from

PA_Pete

Finally uploaded the video from my camera phone of the noise my car was making. After it doing this for a little while now, I'm starting to believe that this may be in the exhaust. I know what I said the first time, but I'm leaning towards the exhaust, at least I hope that's what it is. Let me try to attach this file, you will need Quicktime to view it, and it's kinda crappy quality. Nope, invalid file. Let me try a different approach. Okay, I just created a Google video account. I uploaded the video there. Check it out.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...69271227&hl=en

electromethod

For all those intimate with their screw drivers....


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41966

only 5 bucks to have your very own!

Gotta love harbor freight. Great thread with a lot of OG members proving input!

I dealt with a similar problem on my mom's Rav4. Turned out to be exhaust.... yet ANOTHER repair under warranty on her POS........

I still wouldn't rule out the sound being exhaust related.....

PA_Pete

Dude, that's awesome! I'll have to check out getting one of them. There is a harbor freight store fairly close to where I live, so maybe I will take a ride up there and get on of these things. Gotta love the cheap Chinese tools! Everyone's input has been great and it is really appreciated. IF this turns out to be the exhaust, say like loose internals of one of the cats, well I guess I'll have to replace it with a nice aftermaket one!

Glyn M Ruck

Well I'm buggered!

Glyn M Ruck

Good god! - on my crappy screen speakers it sounds like a shot big end or small end bearing. I'm going to rig up to better speakers & have a good listen.

Just a question - are you sure this noise is coming from under the car & not the engine?? Under the car it can only be exhaust or transmission and those are not transmission type noises although flex plate maybe but it sounds too loud & clattery. There is a distinct metallic pulse (knock) to the sound. Does this increase in frequency as you rev up the engine - like a blown exhaust manifold gasket on 1 cylinder? Are you absolutely sure that you don't have a hole in the exhaust system somewhere?

Please report.

PA_Pete

I'm almost positive it isn't coming from within the engine bay. In that video, it was the loudest it ever was, which was when I first heard it. Since then, it seems to come around within a certain RPM range, like 2000 to 2500. Also, it can be, but not always, intermittent. Like, I have a 27 mile one way trip to work, It may do it at every "pull away" from a stop light or stop sign for 10 miles, then go away, then come back when I arrive at work. It is very mysterious. I do not notice the pitch of the sound change as I rev the engine, the sound is either there, or it goes away after 2500 RPM's. I'm going to try to do a thorough inspection of my exhaust some time so I can try to pinpoint where this is coming from.

C230 Sport Coup

I think I saw this on the Xfiles being used by aliens to probe Moulders back end.