Ticking noise from engine bay.

[Chrisssssssss]

Hey all,
I have a ticking noise comeing from my engine bay. I am going to look at it hopefully with a hoist within the next few days. I am going to bring it somewhere to diagnose the problem, but I am always leary of the big bad dealer.

Anyways the ticking sounds like it is coming from the maybe bottom rear of the engine and over about 2 days has gotten considerably worse. you can hear the ticking at idle, and when the car accelerates at a normal pace. There is no loss in power, oil level ok, and it seems that if I press the clutch pedal in a bit (without enguaging it) it seems to get worse (either that or it gives a simalar noise with the same frequency.) It seems one tick per rev. It does not change the noise if I press in the clutch pedal in at idle. it does get faster if I rev the car in neutral. Any Ideas?

Thanks

 

[luigisho]

There is a natural light ticking noise from the fuel injectors. Now if you think it's coming from the bottom that could be a problem. Does it sound like it's coming from the clutch/flywheel area? How old is the clutch?

 

[Chrisssssssss]

I don't think that it is the injectors. the car only made very light ticking until a few days ago. then I noticed a ticking that I could hear over the engine noise while accelerating. Now, the ticking is very loud. I am getting worried. Could it be related to the clutch? If it was, would the ticking still be heard at idle in neutral? What if it was low on tranny fluid? Just curious. What about the rod bearing? I am just trying to pinpoint whether it is engine or tranny related. What could it be that could get so much louder so quickly (2 days.) This tick is really quite loud and can be heard very clearly from the outside of the car and inside while driving, over regular engine noise.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

as for the clutch, I do not know when it was replaced. I have had the car a year, and so far, the clutch has been good. However, I do notice that the pedal is grabbing higher in the pedal than normal since this ticking has appeared (but I could be imagining that, so I am really not sure). Could this be a symptom of a bad throwout bearing? The sound however seemd to be coming from bottom rear, but that is just me listening fron the top of the engine looking down. I hope to be able to have a closer look at it soon, but I am not sure if I should be driving it.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

Ok, so I let the car sit for a bit and the tick is not as noticable when the engine/car is cold. It then seems to be getting louder as the car warms up. Thanks to all.

 

[Shoman94]

Chrisssssssss:
Ok, so I let the car sit for a bit and the tick is not as noticable when the engine/car is cold. It then seems to be getting louder as the car warms up. Thanks to all.

Sounds like a bad throwout bearing.

 

[89 SHO/SC]

Chrisssssssss:
Ok, so I let the car sit for a bit and the tick is not as noticable when the engine/car is cold. It then seems to be getting louder as the car warms up. Thanks to all.

Not good .. you really don't want to know. Your oil light isn't flickering when the SHO warms up is it ?? (or has someone prior disconnected the oil pressure sending unit?)

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Oh man... bad times. Stop driving it. If the noise is getting worse as it is warming up it means that it is something oil related. I.E. Rod bearings, main bearings, stuff like that. Does it sound like a knock on a solid wood door?

The reason the sound gets louder when it warms up is because the oil is thick at startup and thins as the engine warms up.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

OK, so I have a few different opinions. I am guessing that it is narowed down to two possibilities, throwout bearing and rod bearing. These are two different parts related to two different pieces of car. Engine or tranny (clutch). Is there any way to test for these things?
If it is a throwout bearing, is it easy to replace? Should I do a whole clutch job at the same time? Does this mean my whole tranny is gone? The clutch feels fine and the car runs fine. If the throwout bearing is gone, is the car safe to drive for a while? Does it just mean it is a tick?
OK, let's say it is a rod bearing. What now? is the engine junk, or can I repair this? Is it 3.2L time? SHould I just drive it till it barfs? I live in Canada and I have friends in the wrecking business, and could probably help me put a new motor in. I have seen them on the internet for between $500-$1000 canadian, so I was thinking on doing that. Is it hard to put a 3.2 in a '92 MTX? I heard a lot of people do it.
Sorry for the long post, but I need to figure this out, as this is my car. I need my car and I need help. Thanks all!

 

[stevetatro]

I believe the TOB just means you need a new clutch. Shouldn't relegate you to replacing the tranny.

But, if it's knocking faster as the revs go up, it's more likely to be main bearings or rod bearings. I don't know anything about the main bearings, but I'll probably tackle the rod bearings in the near future. There was just a guy on the Topica email list who did his rod bearings, and he said the toughest part (especially if you're in the rust belt) is getting the y-pipe off (so you can drop the oil pan).

You probably shouln't keep driving it 'til you know for sure what it is. If it's your TOB, no big deal. If it's a rod bearing it doesn't necessarily mean your engine is *****, so long as you replace them before catastrophic failure (I just love saying that!)

Later.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Well the only reason I don't think TOB is because you said that the noise actually get's worse if the clutch is pressed. Generally a bad throw out bearing will quiet down if some pressure is applied to the clutch.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

So, what do I do here. What will tell me whether it is the throwout bearing, or the rod bearing? should I bring it somewhere? What am I listening for if I get this thing on a hoist? If I am underneath the car, where would the sound come from if it were the rod bearing? The throwout bearing? Is there a test for this?

 

[ghostrider]

I think the sound would come from the top of the oil pan. Like if you took off the oil pan right in that area. I'm not entirely sure though. You could try and put some thicker oil in it. If the ticking sound gets softer or goes away then you would probably know it is you rod bearings. Best of luck to you. Seems like these rod bearings are going up in smoke pretty frequently lately.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Well he already knows that it is quieter with the thicker oil because it is quieter when his car starts. Chrissssssssssssssssssss You need to take it somewhere. As knowledgable as everyone here is, it is immpossible for us to 100% diagnose this problem over the internet and considering the money that would be at stake I don't think you would want us to. Take it to a shop and you'll know 100%.

Please let us know.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

OK, so let's say that it is the rod bearing. I am assuming that I will need to get this thing done ASAP. And even if it is not the rod bearing then I don't think that it will harm it do be replaced anyways. Is this a hard job? does anyone have a part # and a procedure to do this? Is there aftermarket parts that I can buy, or do I have to go to Ford? I will be tackling it very soon.

 

[SHO SPD]

I just had a bearing go bad, so bad it damaged the crank, so that called for a new engine... DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT ENGINE

 

[Shoman94]

and it seems that if I press the clutch pedal in a bit (without enguaging it) it seems to get worse (either that or it gives a simalar noise with the same frequency.) It seems one tick per rev. It does not change the noise if I press in the clutch pedal in at idle. it does get faster if I rev the car in neutral. Any Ideas?

Above is what you posted in your first post. Will the noise go away if the clutch is to the floor and tranny in first gear with the engine idling?
Jason

 

[fredhurderjr]

IF you've got the tick, and it's a rod bearing (like mine was), the crank is most likely junk. If you're at that point, with parts somewhat hard & expensive to come by, you're probably along the right track thinking about a 3.2 swap.

However, it's all speculation until you get it checked out. I spun a rod bearing, had no oil light, and I swore the noise was an exhaust leak. Whoops. I had the car towed, pulled the pan & it was an obviously spun bearing.

I opted for a SHO Shop block, but I had my reasons!

Best of luck to you, hope it's a throw-out or other - I'd rather change the clutch than the engine.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

and it seems that if I press the clutch pedal in a bit (without enguaging it) it seems to get worse (either that or it gives a simalar noise with the same frequency.) It seems one tick per rev. It does not change the noise if I press in the clutch pedal in at idle. it does get faster if I rev the car in neutral. Any Ideas?

Above is what you posted in your first post. Will the noise go away if the clutch is to the floor and tranny in first gear with the engine idling?

-no. Does this absolutely mean that it is not the throw out bearing?

 

[Shoman94]

Chrisssssssss:

and it seems that if I press the clutch pedal in a bit (without enguaging it) it seems to get worse (either that or it gives a simalar noise with the same frequency.) It seems one tick per rev. It does not change the noise if I press in the clutch pedal in at idle. it does get faster if I rev the car in neutral. Any Ideas?

Above is what you posted in your first post. Will the noise go away if the clutch is to the floor and tranny in first gear with the engine idling?

-no. Does this absolutely mean that it is not the throw out bearing?

Nope, but this will rule it....

Run the car in first gear at an idle roll, put light pressure on the clutch pedal, Is the noise there?