Clicking/ticking noise from engine

[bkhwong]

Hey guys,

I have a VS V8 Calais Series II. It was running fine, got home then it wouldn't start. It was turning over but not starting. First thing I thought was the fuel pump as I didn't hear it prime. Did the "hit the fuel tank" trick and it started but now has this clicking/ticking noise from the engine. It gets faster as you rev it. Never had this noise ever before. Any ideas as to what it is?

[kenwstr]

Well, It doesn't seem to be related to your starting issue but a clicking or ticking noise could describe tappet noise which would suggest lack of oil in the top of the motor. So check the oil level, Also the oil pickup in the sump is pretty dodgy, if it is possible that the sump may have got a knock recently, this can easily prevent oil entering the pickup even if the level is correct.

It's probably not it as this would not account for starting difficulties unless it's been happening a while so the engines lost compression, Just a thought.


Regards,
Ken

[Scrubmonk]

The fuel injectors always make a ticking noise, this is normal. Are you sure the noise wasn't there before?
If it is a noisey tappet, try running it and removing one spark plug lead at a time, the noise will change on the cylinder with the noisey tappet. Tappet noise is quite a bit louder than the injectors ticking.
If it is a tappet, there are some additives that will quieten it down a little, but the only real cure is open heart surgery. Might as well cam it at the same time
I had similar starting problems, replaced the fuel pump, only for it to re-occur. Ended up it was my key that didn't have a strong enough signal to turn off the the anti-theft. Hasn't missed a beat since.

[304runner]

No, What you are hearing is called a "lifter noise, the lifters (in lack of a better description) are like a syringe that will suck up and shoot oil up the push rods and onto your rockers, so when you tried to start your car and and it wouldn't fire your oil pump wasn't producing enough oil pressure for the lifter to pick up and shoot oil upwards, so not enough oil at the lifters hence the tick tick tick noise.

You will find it will make this noise for a few minutes and sometimes longer. This is a common problem and nothing to worrie about as it will prime itself and and it will be back to normal.

[Demonica]

Change your oil and add a bottle of lifter quietener to it. Should do the trick