Speed related ticking, I don't even know how to descibe it!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
C160 Kompressor Coupe2005
Speed related ticking, I don't even know how to descibe it!
I recently bought a 2005 c160 coupe automatic which in all honesty, is testing me! I have a pronounced ticking noise/sound which increases with road speed and appears to be coming from the transmission tunnel area. Anything under 40MPH and its very evident.(Imagine an uncut thick cable tie fastened around the drive shaft hitting the body)
So far I have lifted the car & rotated all wheels, checked backing plates and looked if anything was wrapped around the drive shaft but cannot simulate the sound. I have had the car on a car ramp and can see nothing untoward.
Its a "plasticky" sound and definitely non metallic and continues even if the car is in neutral. I wondered if the ventilation/ac system could be influenced by road speed at all but operating the different flaps and fan speed makes no difference either. Could a propshaft centre bearing be the culprit?
Any advice would be seriously appreciated, thank you!
So far I have lifted the car & rotated all wheels, checked backing plates and looked if anything was wrapped around the drive shaft but cannot simulate the sound. I have had the car on a car ramp and can see nothing untoward.
Its a "plasticky" sound and definitely non metallic and continues even if the car is in neutral. I wondered if the ventilation/ac system could be influenced by road speed at all but operating the different flaps and fan speed makes no difference either. Could a propshaft centre bearing be the culprit?
Any advice would be seriously appreciated, thank you!
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
Funny you say it sounds like a cable tie / zip tie. During my apprenticeship we’d attach the jumbo 1ft long zip ties to the drive axles of other students work trucks. In spite of their size they seem to disappear under the vehicles. It’d drive em nuts until they’d find it.
I’ve seen a post like this on another thread and it was the plastic center cap that covered the lugs. It lost its keeper spring and only being held on the rim center with minimal friction.
I’ve seen a post like this on another thread and it was the plastic center cap that covered the lugs. It lost its keeper spring and only being held on the rim center with minimal friction.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
The only thing rotating is the drivetrain. Check the length of the shaft for anything like a zip tie. There shouldn't be anything at all like that in the transmission tunnel.
Just throwing it out there, how's the central driveshaft bearing? Also I'd look at the condition of the flex disks. These are known for fraying, though it usually doesn't happen until at least 200k km. How many km on your car?
Just throwing it out there, how's the central driveshaft bearing? Also I'd look at the condition of the flex disks. These are known for fraying, though it usually doesn't happen until at least 200k km. How many km on your car?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
C160 Kompressor Coupe2005
The only thing rotating is the drivetrain. Check the length of the shaft for anything like a zip tie. There shouldn't be anything at all like that in the transmission tunnel.
Just throwing it out there, how's the central driveshaft bearing? Also I'd look at the condition of the flex disks. These are known for fraying, though it usually doesn't happen until at least 200k km. How many km on your car?
Just throwing it out there, how's the central driveshaft bearing? Also I'd look at the condition of the flex disks. These are known for fraying, though it usually doesn't happen until at least 200k km. How many km on your car?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 49
w203cl
A science (I know this word has got a bad taste since 2020) way: Do an audio recording, notice the speed, analyse the frequency of the ticking with Audacity and than you can distinguish between driveshaft or wheels.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
C160 Kompressor Coupe2005
Well I thought I'd post what was discovered! Got the car up on the ramp & removed a section of the heatshield which fortunately came off easy enough. What I found was that the handbrake cable which is secured to the tunnel roof had come free from a plastic retainer and was rubbing/flapping against the drive shaft. Re fastened with a p clip & all sorted and now no more weird sounds. Very happy & a free fix!
