c5581

Sounds like a metallic (metal on metal) sound.

Only happens when engine is "cold"... ie hasn't been started in a while.

After a few minutes, the sound goes away. (I'm assuming once engine temps/oil gets to normal operating temp)

Did a search & read about lifters making a ticking sound.

Was wondering if somebody here experienced this sound first hand.

Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JTbIC7zRQ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvRmpQOP89c

ML500K

suggest you open the hood and then film it. could be anything. belts, pulley etc....

hooleyboy

+1 It really could be anything from a loose plug, belt, loud valve, loud rocker arm. Its so hard to say without putting your ear to it and I mean really putting your ear to it. I had a loud valve at one point. It turned out to be a loose plug wire. Its really hard to say because the camera does not have the same hearing dynamics ears do.

However opening the hood and moving the camera around could help. The noise "should" get louder as the mic from the camera passes by it. Just an idea.

spr

Take a sound file. I've had my air pump and fuel pump replaced which both made metallic like noises. I've also had tyne fan belt replaced but that's the normal noise-

AMGSC

I had a metal ticking noise when the engine is idling. Turned out to be a small exhaust leak.

AMS Performance

could be lifters too, when weather is cold they tend to make terrible noises on start up (or could be a broken lifter as well). If it is lifters, try adding some Rislone to see if it frees up any sticky lifters (usually this will do it) but if its bad enough it may require a replacement of the lifters. Make sure you don't have any leaks of any kind (both intake or exhaust).

hope that helps,

Fabio D

I think is an exhaust leak, but anyway check your spark plugs (broken, or thigtens pair "someone can leak")

if you cn check with open hood is perfect

Fabio Daniel

cannonball55

if you are having trouble pin pointing the sound, try using the hose from your house hold vacuum. good luck finding it!

Steady

we have seen instances on vehicles with lower miles having excessive carbon build up causing a ticking when cold. It soulds similar to lifter noise.

I would suggest a decarbon treatment. Its normal routine maintence and i would eliminate the most cost effective solutions first before jumping into replacing major items like lifters.

c5581

I did take a video with the hood open, but you could barely hear the ticking noise over the belt noises. It seemed like the sound was best captured near the wheel wells.

Like hooley said, the mic doesn't have the same range as the ear. In fact, the video makes it sound less like a metallic "machine gun" sound.

Hoping its not carbon buildup as it is a lower mileage car.

Thanks for the input guys.

I'll poke around some more later this weekend.

mkonei

if youre in the Northeast area, i can let you know if its normal. i just turned 60k on mine, and am used to all the taps and sounds it makes. they are definitely not quiet engines!