Hi,

My car has developed a noise over the past month or so. The noise isn't noticeable from inside the car, it drives perfectly and idles fine. However, if the car is idling and I stand near the car I can hear a loud ticking sound from the engine bay.

The best way to desribe it is like a watch/clock ticking but MUCH louder and MUCH quicker e.g. every 0.1 seconds.

The sound seems to be coming from the inlet manifold/ block although it's hard to pinpoint. Surprisingly, it's not obvious when the engine is cold, but when the engine is warmed up it sounds loud.

Has anyone got an idea what it could be?

thanks

 

Probably the PCV, Purge Control Valve.

It's cited on the back of the inlet manifold pretty much below the throttle body. They can make rapid clicking noises. I'm not sure though that this would mean they are failing/about to fail.

Someone will be along soon to put you right, I'm sure...

 

i second that........mines done it since the re map i dont know why....
it starts about say with in 5 mins of it warming up then if you rev it it will go away till ideling again then kick in again....its a faster tick than a tappet would tick at idle

 

Thanks, is there anyway to have it fixed or is it something that I don't need to worry about?

 

Exactly the same case as mine. Had mine mapped by Andy F over a month ago, and it started ticking as soon as he mapped it. We were talking for a while with the bonnet open and he didn't say anything, so I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

 

If Andy F doesn't see it as a problem I'm happy with that

 

Exactly.

If you are worried about it though, you may be best getting a second opinion, as I wouldn't want something happening to your engine on the strength of what has been said in this thread. But it's most likely nothing to worry about.

 

Thanks, I might get it ran on diagnostics at some point but don't worry I just a gauge an idea off Scoobynet first usually. I'm not that far from Zen performance so I might get them to take a look soon

 

I have the exact same problem,it starts after a few mins of the engine being started and only started happening after the car was mapped,its coming from a small valve on the passenger side of the engine.its just above where the re-circ dv pipe is and has a connector plug and what looks like a vacum pipe on it,if you remove the vac pipe/hose the ticking noise stops.WHAT THE HELL IS IT,someone must know what it is,i`ve had the car in to my local scooby specialist and he dont know what the valve is or why its ticking all of a sudden,and why it stops when the vac pipe is dissconected...THIS IS WORRYING AND VERY ANNOYING.

 

WWM, I think that's the boost control solenoid.

They can also be heard to to make a rapid clicking noise i.e. when there's any boost duty cycle happening, the valve is energised and moves up and down rapidly.

 

Dont think its that mate,i have a 3 port boost solenoid fitted and that is in the usual place near the air filter on the drivers side wing.this valve is on the passenger side of the car below and right of the throttle body as you stand in front of the car,near where the recirc dump valve connects or is blanked off.

 

Oops, sorry - overlooked you said passenger side.

 

I`ll have to take some pics and post them up as no one seems to know what this is and why its making this sound.

 

I have a similar noise once warm, had a recent forged engine rebuild so it would be nice to know its nothing serious, car pulls perfect, with no smoke, etc.. I pressumed tappets??
Its passenger side too. Surely It cant be big end related I hope as i've recently had, new uprated oil pump, fuel pump, internals, gaskets apr etc, warmed/cooled/optimax running on standard boost/map/turbo.... Does the big end start with a tick then get louder and then let go or am i way off track???, first time round it was fine one minute, tractor sounding the next.... this is a tick thats only heard on idle when warm???
opinions please...

 

Injectors can make the noise too.

Steve

 

A loose spark plug will make the same ticking noise as will a slight exhaust gas leak from the up-pipe.
Could be the Purge Control Solenoid from what you describe of its position.

Mick

 

Problem with ticking noises is it could be 101 things.
Couple of months back mine developed a loud ticking noise and I was thinking the worst but it turned out that the manifold gaskets were knakered, about £20 in parts to fix thank god!

Doubt its the big end mate, as you said it drove perfect and no smoke.

 

Mine had this. Turned out to be a gas leak from the headers and a failing crankshaft pulley