engine tick / click
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,247
Likes: 0
From: hamden ct
thats funny, my 02 did that also.. then steve "connecticut" installed a cam and new oil pump and had it tuned and no more noise. car puts down 381 at the rwhp. anf has 93,xxx miles on her and she runs like new with no noise...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by 01vetter
I have a similar noise when cold and isolated it to noisy injectors using an auto stethoscope. They quiet down when warmed.
HTH
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: SW Florida
So here's the anti-climactic end of the story - GMPP guy basically says it's normal (ROSSO Z just took the house). The dealer wouldn't go into detail on what it could be, just said that these high horsepower engines are designed with exact tolerances and after some miles, ticking is normal. Shouldn't be a problem. Said they started up two other 'vettes (02's?) and heard the same thing.
Someone mentioned theirs ticks for like 5 minutes - same as mine. I'll have to time it to be sure, but I know it's on the order of *minutes* to get to 130 deg oil temp at which point the noise goes away (at least in the fall when you're here in NJ).
So at this point, unless ticking becomes clanking, that's the way it'll be. Maybe I'll look into doing the heads / cam upgrade to quiet it down - oh yeah and get more hp.
Thanks for all the input!!
Someone mentioned theirs ticks for like 5 minutes - same as mine. I'll have to time it to be sure, but I know it's on the order of *minutes* to get to 130 deg oil temp at which point the noise goes away (at least in the fall when you're here in NJ).
So at this point, unless ticking becomes clanking, that's the way it'll be. Maybe I'll look into doing the heads / cam upgrade to quiet it down - oh yeah and get more hp.
Thanks for all the input!!
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 1
From: cAshburn VA
A failed lifter would not stop "ticking" so you should be ok. Watch out for the dealer's Jedi mind tricks though!
Word of advice though, I would not move the vehicle until it is properly warmed up, and definately no high rpms until the tick is gone.
Good Luck!
Word of advice though, I would not move the vehicle until it is properly warmed up, and definately no high rpms until the tick is gone.
Good Luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Campbell Ca
Another 02 w/10k miles here with the same ticking noice upon cold start. I checked 6 other vettes that were Non-02 and heard no noise and then I happen to run across another co worker who Also has a 02 and......he has the exact same problem or sound. It appears only the 02's have this unique sound. Now, I also have a Chevy Z71 stepside and it definitely has a bad lifter in it but....it doesn't start ticking everytime, only when it really cold out (probably cause the oil is thicker) and only sometimes (probably when that paticular lifter is in the down position when the engine is shut off and in the morning it has to pump back up and starts ticking until it pumps up). With that said I feel better cause now I'm pretty sure the ticking on my 02 Vette isn't a lifter. If I drive off while its making that ticking noise it almost sounds like a diesel. Now, that I see I'm not the only one, I'm wondering if GM did something a little different that year to the enginese? I think I'll try the stethescope method on Sat morning. I've had 3 separate opinions already and they all say it sounds like noisy injectors. But I do have to say, once it warms up, it runs like a jet.
...Roc
...Roc
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Overland Park KS
Originally Posted by pendragon97
So here's the anti-climactic end of the story - GMPP guy basically says it's normal (ROSSO Z just took the house). The dealer wouldn't go into detail on what it could be, just said that these high horsepower engines are designed with exact tolerances and after some miles, ticking is normal. Shouldn't be a problem. Said they started up two other 'vettes (02's?) and heard the same thing.
Someone mentioned theirs ticks for like 5 minutes - same as mine. I'll have to time it to be sure, but I know it's on the order of *minutes* to get to 130 deg oil temp at which point the noise goes away (at least in the fall when you're here in NJ).
So at this point, unless ticking becomes clanking, that's the way it'll be. Maybe I'll look into doing the heads / cam upgrade to quiet it down - oh yeah and get more hp. Thanks for all the input!!
Someone mentioned theirs ticks for like 5 minutes - same as mine. I'll have to time it to be sure, but I know it's on the order of *minutes* to get to 130 deg oil temp at which point the noise goes away (at least in the fall when you're here in NJ).
So at this point, unless ticking becomes clanking, that's the way it'll be. Maybe I'll look into doing the heads / cam upgrade to quiet it down - oh yeah and get more hp.
Thanks for all the input!!
The extra power negates the noise. 
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: NY
MY 02 with 10k on it also ticks like crazy until about 8 min after start up.i did put a K-N oil filter in and i thought it helped but then it came back.
i read in another vette forum that GM has this fuel cleaner
p/n 88861011 that should help with the piston slap issue.
thoughts
i read in another vette forum that GM has this fuel cleaner
p/n 88861011 that should help with the piston slap issue.
thoughts
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
From: Miami Fl
last two vettes i had slight metalic ticking...... both were injectors.... switched to larger flow injectors and was louder on two injectors.... checked by pulling the wire on the injectors one by one to find the loudest....
my 04 is not doing it yet,,,,
I am pretty sure piston slap would be a low knocking sound rather than ticking.....
RN
my 04 is not doing it yet,,,,
I am pretty sure piston slap would be a low knocking sound rather than ticking.....
RN
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 693
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
Originally Posted by JR_VETTE
It could also be piston slap...especially since it does it when cold.
My LT1 Camaro Z28 also had a similar noise until the engine warmed up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Campbell Ca
Piston Slap. Yep, thats it! Sounds like a diesel when I first start it up. Not really a ticking sound and not really a knocking sound but more of a metalic rattling sound. Checked with my mechanic and he said its the famous GM Piston Slap. The pistons have slightly smaller skirts than the previous years and the rod is dead center causing the noise until it warms up. Won't hurt a thing unless you crank on it while its still cold but we all know better than that. The mech said on later models GM offset the rod just enough to tilt the piston when cold to stop this problem and then on the even newer years they changed piston metals to a dome top that doesn't require the same amount of expansion elminating the slopping sound. Now, the mech might have just been pulling my rod but it sounded good to me and I'm buying it for a dollar ninetynine.
...Rocket
...Rocket
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 2
From: Glendale CA
Originally Posted by Rocket02
Piston Slap. Yep, thats it! Sounds like a diesel when I first start it up. Not really a ticking sound and not really a knocking sound but more of a metalic rattling sound. Checked with my mechanic and he said its the famous GM Piston Slap. The pistons have slightly smaller skirts than the previous years and the rod is dead center causing the noise until it warms up. Won't hurt a thing unless you crank on it while its still cold but we all know better than that. The mech said on later models GM offset the rod just enough to tilt the piston when cold to stop this problem and then on the even newer years they changed piston metals to a dome top that doesn't require the same amount of expansion elminating the slopping sound. Now, the mech might have just been pulling my rod but it sounded good to me and I'm buying it for a dollar ninetynine.
...Rocket
...Rocket
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
I think it may be a combination of piston slap and that fact that an all aluminum engine telegraphs metalic noises more than a cast iron engine. I've heard this on some of my buddies Vettes. Mine is a '98 and does not do this, but I've heard that some 2000 and up cars have more of this issue. A friend mentioned it at one of MQQN's sessions while we were working on our cars. I don't believe it's as much of a problem as an annoyance. On a friend's car, you could hear the ticking and then hear the car quiet as the engine warmed. MQQN thought that it was probably as a result of increased lubrication as the oil warmed, and the expansion properties of the aluminum. My two cents. 
Zuti
Zuti
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 3
From: Metamora, IL
Hate to admit it, but my 02 has the same noise. Goes away after about two blocks of driving. Even after warm, if I listen closely, I can hear the ticking when accelerating from a stop. With many years of engine experience under my belt, I would have to agree with many others, that it is indeed piston slap. When I had it tuned, my tuner said without a doubt it was piston slap. Seems to not be an issue, so drive, enjoy, take it easy on a cold engine and turn up the radio.
