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Diagnosing a ticking noise

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:15 pm
by 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.

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:18 pm
by up2nogood
Pull plug leads to see if big end goes away.

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:09 pm
by 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

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:25 pm
by hokey
could be tappets? what car is the engine in anyway? 5m-e's are pretty much boat anchors but they are pretty tough

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:51 pm
by bad_religion_au
hokey wrote: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?

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:21 pm
by 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.

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:13 pm
by 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.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:29 pm
by bad_religion_au
Gribble wrote: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

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:03 pm
by RAY185
bad_religion_au wrote:
Gribble wrote: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.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:28 pm
by bad_religion_au
RAY185 wrote:
bad_religion_au wrote:
Gribble wrote: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 :armsup:

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:24 pm
by 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!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:31 pm
by bj42turbo
Maybe its the 60 minutes soundtrack you like to listen too

BJ

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:31 pm
by DamTriton
Heathx4 wrote: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 :oops: :oops:

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:27 am
by bad_religion_au
bj42turbo wrote: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

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:14 pm
by 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

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:22 pm
by markil
bad_religion_au wrote: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 :?

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:23 pm
by big bundy
same here :finger:

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:42 pm
by V8Patrol
HOSPITAL

thats the best place to find a DR's stethescope ( spellin .... who cares :finger: )
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.
:D


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 :finger:

Kingy


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

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:36 pm
by bad_religion_au

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:37 pm
by 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 ;)

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:15 pm
by bad_religion_au
hokey wrote: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 :D

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:14 am
by 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.

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:14 am
by bad_religion_au
Zeyphly wrote: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

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:13 am
by bazzle
V8Patrol wrote:HOSPITAL

thats the best place to find a DR's stethescope ( spellin .... who cares :finger: )
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.
:D


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 :finger:

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

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:57 pm
by 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....

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:39 pm
by 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

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:18 pm
by 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 :roll:
-Calvin :D

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:19 am
by 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

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:01 am
by DamTriton
bad_religion_au wrote: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

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:24 am
by bad_religion_au
DAMKIA wrote:
bad_religion_au wrote: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.