ckpvipe

My 600 SE from 1992 has developed a ticking noise that leaves my trusted repairmen speechless. They have no idea as to what might cause this LOUD ticking noise that appears when driving for about 15 minutes (probably when the car reaches a certain temperature?).

The sound is similar to the sound you made when you as a child attached a piece of cardboard to the spoke of the wheel of your bike to make it sound like a motorcycle (best possible illustration J).

The noise is very loud and sounds as if something metal repeatedly hits another metal piece. When you turn off the engine and leave the car for a while, it drives again as if nothing has happened. It sounds like the noise comes from the underbody of the car just behind the front seats. HOWEVER, the driving properties are not affected at all! What makes this even weirder is that the lightest touch on the gas pedal makes the noise disappear until you lift your foot from the gas pedal or apply the brakes.

I join my repairmen in not having any idea what might cause the loud noise. Since it’s far from cheap to have them run around my car, blindly trying out different hypothesis, I need the help from you professionals!

I love my MB and I want to be able to drive if for longer than 15 minutes at a time! J

Kind regards,
Christian

1999 S500

I have never had that problem but a guess might have something to do with a baffler in the muffler flapping when it gets warmed up and removing the exhaust presure (letting off the gas pedal) allows it to make the noise. Apply the gas and it keeps it opened up.

I had issues with a '98 S420 with the drive shaft but the noise associated with it and the vibration got worse with the speed of the engine as you would expect.

Good luck with that one.

Mark

phat

Take the rear brake rotors out to inspect the shoes for emergency brakes. If they have any shine on them, you need a new rotor or the old one shaved. Readjust the cable too while you are there.