Hi all,

My W211 engine makes tick tick sound once it's warmed up at idle. That noise comes from the bottom of the engine.

In most cases, this tick tick noise comes from valve lifter at cold start, I think. However, my W211 doesn't make tick tick noise at cold start. Only after the engine is warmed up like 85-degree C.

Where is this noise coming from and what is the solution to remove it?

Thank you in advance.

Mine does too, they all do. Overhead cam engines do that.

Thank for your comment, MasterMoparSB.


Below is a W211 video shot in Youtube which has a same noise as mine. Please focus on the noise after 00:52 of this video. The ticking noise can be heard easier outside of the fender than inside of the engine room.


Below is another video shot in Youtube. Please hear the ticking sound 1:00 to 1:30 in this video.


Any idea to remove this noise?

My car sounds identical to the first video, IMO nothing is wrong at all. I'm sitting in my car right now and it sounds just like that, and it has for quite some time now, probably for the last 30k or so, I have 65k now.

The second video sounds like a timing problem, and sounds pretty bad

Yeah I would second that and say my car sounds fairly close to the first video.

My 06 E350 sounds exactly like the one in video 1. Car runs perfect, but the sound is annoying when the engine gets hot. What causes that and how to fix the problem? Not all of them develop this issue though, so this is not a typical overhead cam behaviour.

I had a tick that really concerned me, found that it's the Evaporator purge vacum valve solenoid. Like you I could hear it outside the car as well. I put my hand on it and I could feel the solenoid ticking in perfect time with the sound. I've read you can clean them with MAF cleaner. Just a thought

Thanks Craig, so would that be manifested only when the AC is ON? I can hear the tick with AC off but only when the engine warms up.

the solenoid does run intermittently, on mine it clicks when I first start the car for several minutes then occasionally after that. I had spent a fair bit of time tracking the tick down and initially I thought it was coming from the motor, either the front of the motor or down low by the A/C pump with the hood open. look behind your drivers side headlight assembly and you'll see a solenoid mounted on a rubber insulator mounted to the radiator support. It has 2 hoses going to it. Start your car (be careful of turning belt) and put your hand on the solenoid and you will feel it working. Thats how I discovered the scary ticking under the hood. Hope this helps you

Craigc's diagnosis and comments are right on. When I first acquired my '09 E350, I swore I was hearing a bad lifter. But the dealer's best tech immediately pointed out the Evaporator purge valve as the culprit. FYI-they would not replace it under warranty...said that noise is "normal".

60K miles and 4 years later, it's still there...no worse, no better.

relinuca

Mine makes that ticking noise if gear is in drive or reverse after car has warmed up, e.g. when I arrive home and drive into my garage you could certainly hear it. However, not when in neutral. How about you guys?

Once I discovered the source of the tick I cleaned it by following a DIY link with MAF cleaner but it didn't help with the sound level coming from it. I know its working so I never investigated when it runs or does not. If it stops working you will get a code. It does run intermittently when its operating correctly so I don't bother with it any more.

Is this the Evaporator purge vacuum valve solenoid, where arrows are pointing?

Yes that is the purge solenoid, is yours quite loud like mine is?

Yes, mine is very noticeable when car is warm and in gear. I think I'm gonna clean this solenoid with MAF to see if noise would quite down. Is taking it off just involves removing electrical plug and 2 hoses going in and out?

thats right, I've sent you a PM

So did the tick you were concerned about turn out to be the purge solenoid?

I just got done cleaning the purge solenoid this morning. The ticking noise is still there, but maybe a tad better. At least I now know my solenoid is nice and clean

I am updating my ticking noise problem. A couple of days ago, I finally got a new purge valve solenoid and changed it in a couple of minutes. The ticking sound is now gone. One "amateur mechanic" had told me my lifters were bad. I'm so relieved to know he was wrong. I owe it to this forum for having guided me on this issue. Thanks konigstiger for providing me with the most updated part number. Thanks guys!

Might try this... have what seems to be a noisier lifter (it's pretty much remained the same the entire life of the car though) but seems to be noticeable more when the car is hot. How much was the fix?

I paid $75 for the valve, and took me a couple of minutes to do. Part number is 0004708893.

Just a thought, disconnect the connector on your purge valve and see if it goes away... What happens next is up for you to decide.

2010 E350 with 100k same thing