another strange clicking sound...

[timewind]

Hi all

This is just a minor problem but still a little bit onerous. As soon as the engine is raising to working temperature , there is a clicking noise (around 2-3 times a second). The noise is coming from somewhere of the passenger side. I'm not sure whether this is in any relation with the temperature or not. Anybody have an idea?

Best regards

[johno]

Tappets, exhaust mainfold gasket......

Is it while the car is moving or stationary ??

Any particualr rev range ??

Mark

[Paul V]

My exhaust gaskets where making a clicking type sound, or as johno said it could be tappets.

Does it appear to be coming from the engine?

[timewind]

Hi there

The sound is only there when driving and seems to come from the engine. It is not there when I press the clutch!

Thanks guys

[roulli]

High

Timewind has got an S3C, so it has hydraulic tappets. I guess it should not come from there, then.
Is the noise a function of the engine revolution or more of the speed (wheel revolution)?
Patrick

[johno]

quote:
High

Timewind has got an S3C, so it has hydraulic tappets. I guess it should not come from there, then.
Is the noise a function of the engine revolution or more of the speed (wheel revolution)?
Patrick

That is a general rule yes, but if he has a hydraulic tappet that is not retaining a sufficient amount of residual oil them it will click until the engine warms as it will not function correctly. Once warm then this tolerance may be reduced and hence reduction in noise.

It may also be possible that the engine is forcing oil into this tappet but that is rather unlikely given that once they drain then you can't reintroduce oil and have to replace them.

Or as my "Engineering all his life garage/plane mechanicing" father found out that if you leave them overnight bucket downwards you lose all the oil out of them and when you restart the car the tappets don't work and you re-bend 6 valves which you replaced after the cambelt went bang the previous day. So start again !!!

Blue air, even the dog ran for cover !!!!

[HarryW]

quote:
Hi there

The sound is only there when driving and seems to come from the engine. It is not there when I press the clutch!

Thanks guys

Timewind, lets see if I've got this straight;

1. Clicking noise when engine warm 2/3 every sec.
2. Noise goes when clutch depressed.
3. Coming from passenger side.

This then raises some questions;

1. Is the noise there when moving only or when stationary as well?
2. When you say it is from the passenger side, is that from the front/middle/back part of the passenger side?

Not sure about this one as the only difference with the clutch depressed that I can think of is;

1. The drive train (clutch/gearbox/diff/drive shafts etc) is not under 'load' however will still be rotating if the noise is present when the car is moving. Therefore whether the noise is present or not when moving is an important issue here.
2. The engine it's self is not under 'load' when the clutch is depressed, so it may be blowing manifold gaskets again only audible under load.
3. It could be pinking, maybe you're only hearing the worst bits under load, check this by short shifting and trying to accelerate hard, does the noise become more frequent and or louder?
4. Tappets as already stated could be more audible under heavy load (unlikely though as you'd probably be aware of something not quite right at tick over even when parked).

I hope this goes someway to getting it sorted, don't forget defects that are concisely described are the easiest to diagnose and if you've checked all of the above at least you'll have a bigger list of what it is not

Harry

P.S. All of the above is obviously IMHO and of limited valve to anyone who's car isn't making the above noises

[JSG]

If it disapears when the clutch is pressed it sounds clutch / drivetrain related. The usual problem in this case is the thrust bearing in the clutch assembly but this is normally more of a rattle than a ticking - and you'd still get it when stationary ?????

One thought - you say passenger side - it's not coming from the fuse / relay area is it? although this doesn't fit in with the clutch.

Sorry, not much help.

[timewind]

Hi Harry

The sound is only there when driving. Sound is coming from 2 o'clock position.

Roulli, It is not speed sensitive. Always the same beat.

And strangely enough it's not always there. I'm sure if I try to show this to the local dealer (lucky me, the general Importer is in the same town then I live) it won't be there!!

Thanks for the tips I try to check this out first thing at weekend. No need to hurry for me cause it's raining like hell in Switzerland!!

Regards

timewind