Clicking/Ticking sound at idle

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Chubbs765

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I've started noticing once I start my car up, cold or warm my car makes a rather annoying sound that sounds like a pen clicking pretty rapidly. The catch it its only when the car is in park that I know of right now. I've tried to locate the sound but didn't find anything. Any ideas at all? And no it's not only when my heat/ac is on.
 
My guess is tensioner pulley. I had a clicking, sometimes whinning myself. It was deff coming from the pulley. Took to dealership, couldn't recreate the sound and havnt heard it since.
 
Haha that's how it always happens, never makes the sound when you want it to! But alrighty I'll be sure to check that out. How would you determine if it's bad?
 
One easy test is to just look at it. If the pulley is wobbling (any) or bouncing (quite a bit) then the tensioner is shot.
My favorite shade tree tool is a length of 3/8" hose, about 3' long. It's my listening tube. Stick one end in your ear, move the other end around. Find the noise.
Another option is the mechanics stethescope from the parts store. Those only work if it's a sound generated by things hitting each other. Seems I'm always tracking down exhaust leaks (and similar noises) where the tube works much better.

Don't get your hand cut off by the belt.
 
Chubbs765 said:
I've started noticing once I start my car up, cold or warm my car makes a rather annoying sound that sounds like a pen clicking pretty rapidly. The catch it its only when the car is in park that I know of right now. I've tried to locate the sound but didn't find anything. Any ideas at all? And no it's not only when my heat/ac is on.
Click to expand...

Sometimes the injectors can be noisy... have a listen around there too.
 
Time for an oil change ?

Timing chain tensioners ?


Detonation knock pinging ?
~ run highest octane fuel in the LS, lower octane fuels can cause pinging noises.
 
Just had a oil change. But always run 93 octane and I'd hope it wouldn't be the timing tensioners with it only having 55K on it. It's almost like its at the rear of the motor, exhaust leak possibly?
 
I bet it's the belt tensioner going out. Replace it now before you lose the belt with it and have to get the vehicle towed for service. If that doesn't fix the problem you at least have preventive maintenence done.
 
BlackLS06 said:
I bet it's the belt tensioner going out. Replace it now before you lose the belt with it and have to get the vehicle towed for service. If that doesn't fix the problem you at least have preventive maintenence done.
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Can you specify exactly which tensioner you are speaking of? Accessory belt tensioner or timing chain tensioner? I thought the 2003+ had the improved timing chain tensioners from the factory, not the cheap plastic ones they used in the Gen 1s. Is this correct?
 
Telco said:
Can you specify exactly which tensioner you are speaking of? Accessory belt tensioner or timing chain tensioner? I thought the 2003+ had the improved timing chain tensioners from the factory, not the cheap plastic ones they used in the Gen 1s. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

The belt tensioner. Theres only one belt tensioner and if it fails the entire serpentine belt can slip off it happened to me.

With only 55K theres no way it could be timing chain tensioners, and since 02 they have been improved.
 
Tony Stark (V6 Gen II) recently had a fast-paced tick, and lost his water pump not long after.
 
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