. mine has it and i HATE it. 
Drives me nutz! Embarrassing at times, especially after Cold Start.
Ticking noise
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 826
Likes: 52
From: Chicopee MA
Ticking noise
I have an 03 vert and once in awhile I get a ticking noise sound from the engine.It sounds like a lifter type noise.After looking at the TSBs there is one for that type of ticking.It is a bad o-ring on the oil pump pick-up causing aireation of the oil. My question is what is causing the ticking.The oil pressure is good at all times.It seems to me if noise is due to low oil pressure it would show a drop on the guage.I am not sure it is a lifter noise but it sounds like one.Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
try to run some injector cleaner in the gas. I've heard alot of the 5.3l engines do that. They say it's the injectors. If you have a clogged injector it will make a ticking sound.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by mvvette97
try to run some injector cleaner in the gas. I've heard alot of the 5.3l engines do that. They say it's the injectors. If you have a clogged injector it will make a ticking sound.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Might be a slight injector noise (normal) or can be the beehive valve springs that are also slightly noisy (normal). If it is a startup only noise, somewhat loud, then it might be piston slap, but you should not have it on an 03. If it is a faint ticking, it is normal.
Last edited by vettenuts; Aug 24, 2005 at 05:10 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Yep, I have that noise to and it sounds exactly like the noise in this web site (http://www.pistonslap.com/) so I guess it is piston slap.
Anyway, I put a long bladed screwdriver at each cyclinder and found the noise was at the 1st piston on the passenger side of the engine. GM isn't to concerned about the problem but many people have been able to have the dealer extend the factory warranty to cover potential problems. Haven't heard of any failures due to this problem so other than anoying not much to be done about it. I also had the problem in my 98 WS6 LS1 engine.
Anyway, I put a long bladed screwdriver at each cyclinder and found the noise was at the 1st piston on the passenger side of the engine. GM isn't to concerned about the problem but many people have been able to have the dealer extend the factory warranty to cover potential problems. Haven't heard of any failures due to this problem so other than anoying not much to be done about it. I also had the problem in my 98 WS6 LS1 engine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by Dave68
A K&N oil filter will quiet this down considerably. Also, stay away from 10W-30 or 20W-50 oils. They tend to aggravate the situation.
