Diagnosing a ticking noise

[bad_religion_au]

got a single overhead cam straight 6 (5m-e but i assume there all as easy as each other to diagnose), long story short, it had oil, but melbourne - adelaide saw it lose a heap of power (especially over 3 grand) and a noisy ticking noise develop. sounds like it's coming from 1 cylinder (by the frequency of the noise) either 5 or 6. my first thought is it's a valve, but research tells me it could also be big end bearings or piston related. any easy way to differentiate between the two? i.e. pull spark plug leads and see if it stops the noise or something?

also i can cover the exaust pipe with my hand with little effort, and it stalls out the engine... ive been told that it should be pretty hard to do that.

[up2nogood]

Pull plug leads to see if big end goes away.

[christover1]

The ticking can be as simple as a lead leaking spark. It is worth a check.
I don't hear clicking sounds (quite deaf), but have been told by others that they hear a click, and I have found a loose lead sparking out.

But, yeah, pulling a lead will tell you which cylinder is at fault.

christover

[hokey]

could be tappets? what car is the engine in anyway? 5m-e's are pretty much boat anchors but they are pretty tough

[bad_religion_au]

could be tappets? what car is the engine in anyway? 5m-e's are pretty much boat anchors but they are pretty tough

in it's natural habitat (toyota crown).

was thinking of pulling the rocker cover to see if i can see any valvetrain damage.

other than the leads, the valvetrain and the big ends, any other suggestions?

[DamTriton]

Big end noise can usually be spotted (ie heard) big time if you load up the engine, its volume is usually proportional to the amount it is loaded (ie in manuals 30 km/h accelerator flat to the boards in top gear is a good test)

Valvetrain noise in contrast is a constant volume.

Could be as simple as a hydraulic lash adjuster with a plug of goop in it. Likely given the age of the motor.

[Gribble]

Big ends dont tick when they are wearing out. They are more like a 44 gallon drum being beaten with a peice of 4x2.

Engine noise is hard to diagnose over an internet forum. Something we can ponder about all week but really need to hear in person to make a good judgement.

[bad_religion_au]

Big ends dont tick when they are wearing out. They are more like a 44 gallon drum being beaten with a peice of 4x2.

Engine noise is hard to diagnose over an internet forum. Something we can ponder about all week but really need to hear in person to make a good judgement.

would a video clip with the sound help?

the noise is ticking at idle, and turns into a loud chatter over about 2000rpm

[RAY185]

Big ends dont tick when they are wearing out. They are more like a 44 gallon drum being beaten with a peice of 4x2.

Engine noise is hard to diagnose over an internet forum. Something we can ponder about all week but really need to hear in person to make a good judgement.

would a video clip with the sound help?

the noise is ticking at idle, and turns into a loud chatter over about 2000rpm

You can rule out leads then as they make a light ticking noise. If you describe it as a chatter then its probably tappets as a big end is more of a deep banging but as was said, we're pissing into the wind without hearing it so throwing up a vid clip would definately help.

[bad_religion_au]

Big ends dont tick when they are wearing out. They are more like a 44 gallon drum being beaten with a peice of 4x2.

Engine noise is hard to diagnose over an internet forum. Something we can ponder about all week but really need to hear in person to make a good judgement.

would a video clip with the sound help?

the noise is ticking at idle, and turns into a loud chatter over about 2000rpm

You can rule out leads then as they make a light ticking noise. If you describe it as a chatter then its probably tappets as a big end is more of a deep banging but as was said, we're pissing into the wind without hearing it so throwing up a vid clip would definately help.

will film tonight if i get home before passing out

[Heathx4]

Can always try a screwdriver: plastic end in ear, metal end on engine, probing for the location of the sound. Should give you cyclinder region and top or bottom region. Sounds tappet-y. Can you run it without the rocker cover on? Might be a bit messy, but may help.

Definitely pull the rocker cover and check clearance - if one had a gap it'll be tapping!

[bj42turbo]

Maybe its the 60 minutes soundtrack you like to listen too

BJ

[DamTriton]

Can always try a screwdriver: plastic end in ear, metal end on engine, probing for the location of the sound. Should give you cyclinder region and top or bottom region. Sounds tappet-y. Can you run it without the rocker cover on? Might be a bit messy, but may help.

Definitely pull the rocker cover and check clearance - if one had a gap it'll be tapping!

Be a bit careful where you place the screwdriver Avoid the coil/plug leads, all they do is make a nasty zapping sound in your ear for the next two hours

[bad_religion_au]

Maybe its the 60 minutes soundtrack you like to listen too

BJ

nah that's the exaust manifold leak in my 40.

will get clip later, the housemate cracked the shits because i started it up at 11pm

that's how farken loud the tapping is

[bad_religion_au]

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e309/ ... 0043gp.flv

there's the noise... almost non existant at 500 rpm, by 1000rpm it's loud... by 3000 rpm it sounds like barry manilow gargling nails

[markil]

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e309/ ... 0043gp.flv

there's the noise... almost non existant at 500 rpm, by 1000rpm it's loud... by 3000 rpm it sounds like barry manilow gargling nails

Maybe just me, but I don't get ANY sound in that clip

[big bundy]

same here

[V8Patrol]

HOSPITAL

thats the best place to find a DR's stethescope ( spellin .... who cares )
Pi$$ the bit off that they usually place on ya chest and replace it with a bit of hollow copper tube around 150mm long. ( brake line tube works pretty good )

It WILL give you the best "hearing aid " for engine fault finding you'll ever find.



Dr's often break their steth's or get "free" new ones from medical companys ( you know the trick...... buy this chopping board and we'll throw in 6 steak knives FREE !!!! ), Just ask one of the nurses or a Dr next time your in the neighborhood.
A vet is also worth asking too if ya have no luck at the hossy.

& NO you cant borrow mine

Kingy


p/s
the ole screwdriver to the ear does work but its no where near as good as a stethecope

[bad_religion_au]

that one work?

http://www.zippyvideos.com/1167024505483236/video-0004/

[hokey]

Exhaust gaskets if screwed make a nice ticking noise. but anyway just chuck the motor out and get a 7MGE. there is a 5MGE at the pick a part round the corner from my joint too. only 150

[bad_religion_au]

Exhaust gaskets if screwed make a nice ticking noise. but anyway just chuck the motor out and get a 7MGE. there is a 5MGE at the pick a part round the corner from my joint too. only 150

where is your joint... been thinking 7mge, but don't want to overcapitalise on a 700 dollar car.

99% it's not an exaust gasket, have dealt with them before

[Zeyphly]

if its not an exhaust leak might be worth spending the time and giving it a compression test to see if something has gone bad inside the cylinder. It doesnt sound like a big end noise.

[bad_religion_au]

if its not an exhaust leak might be worth spending the time and giving it a compression test to see if something has gone bad inside the cylinder. It doesnt sound like a big end noise.

i'm 90% that it's a bad valve/valvetrain problem... just wanted to be as sure as i could before i pulled the head

[bazzle]

HOSPITAL

thats the best place to find a DR's stethescope ( spellin .... who cares )
Pi$$ the bit off that they usually place on ya chest and replace it with a bit of hollow copper tube around 150mm long. ( brake line tube works pretty good )

It WILL give you the best "hearing aid " for engine fault finding you'll ever find.



Dr's often break their steth's or get "free" new ones from medical companys ( you know the trick...... buy this chopping board and we'll throw in 6 steak knives FREE !!!! ), Just ask one of the nurses or a Dr next time your in the neighborhood.
A vet is also worth asking too if ya have no luck at the hossy.

& NO you cant borrow mine

Kingy


p/s
the ole screwdriver to the ear does work but its no where near as good as a stethecope

I paid $9:95 at Supercheap last year.

Bazzle

[lay80n]

Sounds like a big end. Disconect each of the plugs one at a time and see if it goes away on one cylinder. If you take the plug off it takes the pressure off that cylinders bearing. The sound should go away when one of the plugs is off.

Layto....

[shakes]

get a rocker cover gasket and check all you clearances in the head before you go ripping anything apart, could just be something simple like a VERY loose tappet, dont know these motor's worn pushrods? cracked valve spring? these would say loss of power as well!

Simon

[hokey]

Agree with above. You don't have to take your head off to adjust the tappets. and 5m-e's are just Grimace. i have been hangin round a toyota car forum for too long
-Calvin

[bad_religion_au]

well i tested it by pulling one plug at a time, no noticable difference, then it decided to punch something (haven't looked in daylight) through the side of the block, spewing oil over the exaust and setting the engine bay on fire...

wanted... 1 very cheap 5me

[DamTriton]

well i tested it by pulling one plug at a time, no noticable difference, then it decided to punch something (haven't looked in daylight) through the side of the block, spewing oil over the exaust and setting the engine bay on fire...

wanted... 1 very cheap 5me

Hmmmm, let me guess...........a conrod????????

Guess would now be the wristpin (little end).........................FWIW

[bad_religion_au]

well i tested it by pulling one plug at a time, no noticable difference, then it decided to punch something (haven't looked in daylight) through the side of the block, spewing oil over the exaust and setting the engine bay on fire...

wanted... 1 very cheap 5me

Hmmmm, let me guess...........a conrod????????

Guess would now be the wristpin (little end).........................FWIW

lol. i havent had the motervation to crawl under it. whatever it was punctured the block towards the firewall, and on the drivers side. can't see much else because the exaust manifold is in the way.