Another Engine Ticking Question - DII - '00

[ticketdoctor]

Long time lurker.

The Vehicle: 2000 DII with approximately 115K w/ ACE

The Vehicle has a ticking noise coming from the top / front of the motor, at least what I can tell from just listening to it with my naked ear.

No noticeable noise when the motor is cold, but when it warms up it is noticeable.

Ticking sounds like a lifter or a rocker arm, but I could be talking out of my ars since I am not an expert.

The motor does not appear to be skipping or have any noticeable lack of power.

The ticketing is consistent with the speed of the motor. Increase to RPM and the ticking increases.

I have done a search and is sounds like the common issue is an exhaust leak. Could this be what I have? I know it is tough to diagnose via the internet.

Other items to consider:

-Approximately 1,000 miles ago I had the steering pump replaced.

-Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 miles ago I had the radiator replaced. Complete failure of the radiator causing the motor to overhead.

-Oil is full and was replaced approximately 1,000 miles ago. Coolant is full and I am not noticing a increase in the engine temp.

One other thing that I noticed while the hood was up and the vehicle was running. It appeared that the power steering fluid and ACE Fluid appear to have a ton of movement, almost like it was boiling in the reservoir. Never had noticed this before I had the power steering pump replaced, but the reservoir had alway been dirty.

The vehicle is going in to the shop tomorrow.

I will suggest that the mechanic look for exhaust leaks.

I will report back with what the shop has to say.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Get a length of hose - Heater hose, vacuum hose, garden hose... 3' or less. 1/4"-3/4" diameter

Put one end to your ear.

Point the other end around the engine bay - esp the manifold. Get close 1" or less. You'll find the leak (if that's what it is).

No leak? Take a solid metal bar (I use an 18" * 3/8" socket extension)

Put one end in your ear (if this is a chunk of rusty rebar, dress the end so you don't poke a hole in yourself).

Put the other end on:
Alternator
Water pump
Cylinder head
Rocker cover
etc

You'll locate the ticking.

It's what the mechanic will do....

ps Do it while the engine is running and be very fucking careful or you'll kill yourself.

 

[ticketdoctor]

Any thoughts about ticking starting when the engine warms up?

I will get a closer listen tonight.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Did the fan punch a socket extension through your skull??

 

[Lake_Bueller]

It could be a bad pickup in the oil pan. Don't ask me how I know this but dropping your pan on the trail isn't too much fun.

But seriously...it could be a blocked screen on the oil pickup in the pan. It's not hard to drop the oil pan and clean out the screen. Also take some time to scrub the inside of the oil pan. There will be rust particals in there.

My truck had been ticking for some time. It starting only doing it when "cold". Then it got progressively worse. The final straw was a few weeks ago on the trail. The low oil light came on and the ticking got really bad. The oil levels were fine. After dropping the pan, the pickup screen was almost completely blocked. After some good cleaning, it's running great with very little ticking.

As a point of reference...1997 DI with 150K miles.

Good luck!!!

 

[dhuddleson]

Could be a rocker arm. The rockers are aluminum with a steel cup "staked" into the rocker arm side which pushes on the pushrod. There seems to be a period of time somewhere late 1990's to around 2002 (or so) where bad batches of rocker shafts were built.

What happens is the "staking" of the steel cup into the rocker arm fails, and the steel cup is loose. Then ticking can be heard as the pushrod knocks that steel cup into the rocker arm.


Second possibility that everyone suggests to rule out first: exhaust manifold leak, from a crack, or blown gaskets on manifold...

Let us know what you find!

 

[ticketdoctor]

Did the fan punch a socket extension through your skull??

Still Here!

I decided not to mess with it too much yesterday. I dropped it off last night and am hoping for the best. I left a nice love letter with the truck yesterday suggesting they look at, A) A Possible Exhaust Leak B) Dropping the Oil Pan to clean the Oil Pick-up, C) Taking the truck out back and setting it on fire.

Last night the ticking started immediately after I turned the engine on.

I am not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but as I had the hood up in the driveway, I turned the wheel slightly, the ticking was greatly reduced.

I have a gut feeling that it is not the motor. The motor runs fairly smooth with no noticeable loss in power.

I am keeping my fingers crossed it is nothing major.....

I will post the findings when I get the word.

 

[ticketdoctor]

Disco is safely back in the driveway..... No Charge No Known Engine Issues at this time.

Ticking Noise was the result of loose bolts on the pulley that provides power to the power steering pump. This is what I was told, so if I am wrong, please don't lambaste me to much. I was so happy to hear no charge that I might have not heard the whole story.

I was told that the bolts had loosen, probably from when the power steering pump installed about 1,000 miles ago.

All is well in Ithaca today.....

Thank you all.